To my challengers over Memorial Weekend!
It's FRIDAY and MEMORIAL WEEKEND IS HERE! WOOHOO! Time to let loose, get crazy, forget about the work week and have some FUN. Wait, what? I started a what? You mean I made a decision last week to start living a healthier lifestyle? Well that's just DUMB! I am not giving up my 3 day weekend to follow some stupid diet because I made a commitment, i'll start again on Monday. I'm not some stupid fitness freak , I can eat whatever I want. Well, no wait .. I can't start on Monday because that is Memorial Day, and I can't start on Tuesday because Tuesday is not Monday, and if you don't start on a Monday then it is just doesn't work. SEE, this is why I don't "diet!" I never have time , there is always something going on .. yadda yadda yadda ..
Pretty exhausting right? Are you guilty? I know I was. I actually use to live my life that way. I would feel so sorry for myself and for the decision I made to get healthier that I would completely manipulate my thought process, FAIL, and then totally bomb my amazing week! I wasn't even aware of the things I was saying to myself! I would get so caught up in my hissy fit about NOT being able to have something, that I wouldn't see the other side of the coin.
My point of this post. LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN.
What about all the things you can have? What about portion control with items you choose ? What about eating before the cookout so you don't go somewhere completely starving? What about making a commitment to get up and get your exercise routine in? What about bringing a dish, or packing some nuts/veggies to snack on so you don't pick at everything in the middle of the table. Why not have a drink but follow it with a glass of water to stay hydrated and full? THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES. So many avenues to lead you to success that we so often neglect because all we are worried about is all the things we CAN'T have.
Start thinking about the things you CAN have. Start planning for a successful weekend. Bring a healthy dish! Have the cheat meal! Just don't have heaping portions. Make this a social setting and not about the food. Keep yourself busy, play with the kids!
You want change in your life, you can't pick the days or holidays on which to do it. It has to be 100% commitment, knowing that if you tweak it a little bit, it won't be hard to get back on track. Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be! YOU wanted this a week ago, don't let those lame excuses leave you in a miserable slump on Tuesday morning as you drown in regret.
Become AWARE. Aware of your thoughts, of your surroundings, of your decisions. Understand that no one can do this but YOU. If anything, know that I believe in you. Know that i've failed, and that it was becoming AWARE of my thoughts, aware of my actions, aware of my attitude, that shifted what has been such a positive and influential change in my life.
Oh , it's not you thats the problem, it's everyone else giving you a hard time? Let me shed some light.
"Very few people are even aware of what's available, however, because we live in fear- based society that likes to get all uppity toward people who are waking up from " The big Snooze", aka their ego, blast out of the comfort zones, and follow their heart into the great unknown. Oftentimes, taking great big leaps of faith is labeled as irresponsible, or selfish, or insane. This is because watching someone else totally go for something can be incredibly upsetting to the person who's spent a lifetime building a solid case for why they themselves can't.
I'm obviously generalizing here, and there are plenty of people out there cheering you on, but one of the first things you might have to deal with when you decide to wake up from the Big Snooze and make massive positive changes in your life is disapproval from other people who are snoring away. Especially the people closest to you, as lame as this sounds.
Even though they're often doing it out of love and concern, having others smear their fear and worry all over you is the last thing you need when you're strengthening your superhero muscles to go out and take some risks, so I highly recommend keeping your mouth shut around people who are going to bring you down right now. Instead, seek out to those already kicking serious booty! "
I realize this might be a bit far-fetched, but remember you create your reality. And you've spent your entire life creating the one you presently have largely based on your limiting beliefs. When you decide to re-wire those beliefs, go for whats truly in your heart and do a massive overhaul on yourself and your world, you're basically murdering the Big Snooze. And she's gonna come at you, guns blazing, to beat you back into your old life. We are very powerful creatures who create our realities through focused energy. FIND YOUR FOCUS.
Remember this : When taking great leaps forward, life often turns to shit before it turns to shinola. You're fighting all the reasons why right now that this commitment isn't worth it, but it's consistency , positivity, and excitement on your journey that is going to bring you to your destination. Your want to change has to be more powerful than your want to stay the same!
You've got this!! Enjoy your weekend!
Xo,
Natalie