This isn’t a post about boogers. Just wanted you to know up front so you aren’t disappointed. This is a post about why something (a change, a decision, a choice to eat better or drink less or exercise or prioritize mobility over chiseled muscles) sticks and ends up being better for you in the long run.
We’ve all made New Years resolutions. To lose weight. To sleep better. To read more books. To whatever it is that you want to do. Whatever you think your ideal self should be. And we’ve all given up on them. Maybe it happens every year. And you feel bad about it. But then go back to gluttonously devouring Trader Joe’s holiday cookies and basking in your sugar saturated complacency. Why keep going? You’ve already messed up. You’re not perfect so why try to be?
The mentality shift to defeatism is swift and overpowering. We surrender to it. And move on. No change is made.
And then sometimes for one reason or another it does stick. A habit forms. We make a change. And it’s invigorating. We feel a sense of purpose and momentum and satisfaction. But why? Why did it work this time and not before?
Maybe it’s because it’s right for you. Maybe all those changes you were trying to make before weren’t actually what was best. You were trying to squeeze yourself into a space you didn’t fit. The timing of the changes we prioritize and who we really want to be suddenly align and it’s easy. You’re committed. Unwavering. Determined. And you’re doing it day in and day out.
I believe that when we stop putting so much arbitrary pressure on ourselves to do or be or have something we give ourselves the space to be our ideal selves. And that frees us up to focus on what we need to thrive and be healthy and do our best work.
Maybe you try to push too hard in workouts. Maybe you try to have a zero fat body. Maybe you try to win everything. Whatever it may be there’s a possibility those goals are holding you back from what will really make you stronger, fitter, funnier, or more successful. Do I really need to be able to run six miles right now? No way. But do I need to be able to put my pants on in the morning. Yes I do. So focusing on what I need to do to be mobile and flexible and strong takes the pressure off of some distance or number I wanted to achieve and allows me to focus on healing my body. What does a six mile run matter anyway if I can’t sleep later because my body aches?
The point of all my rambling is it’s important to step back and understand what you really need mentality, physically, and spiritually. The process is everything. It’s ok to have an end goal. But if that end goal doesn’t align with the way you want to live and feel along the way maybe it’s time to re-evaluate. Could there be something better for you? Who knows you may achieve more than you thought possible by setting some holistic goals instead.
