I believe the best way to experience this life is to be the healthiest version of yourself. Mind, body, heart. When you are healthy you feel good, look good, think clearly, and take positive action. You show up better in all the important areas of life such as your relationships, your career, your finances, and even your spirituality.
When we let our health and self-care slip to the bottom of our priority list, we not only neglect our own needs and ignore our desires, we also betray our selves. Over time this neglect leaves us feeling disconnected from ourselves. We become tired, cranky, disengaged, fed-up, overwhelmed, & overstimulated. We keep going through the same unconscious motions. We get by on distractions, stimulants, drama, and compulsions. We keep busy and even though we are constantly going it feels like we’re just getting by. So many have accepted this hamster wheel existence.
I say that is no way to live, and I’ll let you in on a little secret I learned when I was rolling into my first major cancer surgery. . . You will regret all the time you wasted just going through the motions and just getting by.
Your life is meant to be lived intentionally.
Living intentionally means letting go of habits & behaviors that may have been useful in the past but no longer fit into the life I envision for myself. These unwanted habits run on autopilot, sucking up valuable time and energy much like monthly subscriptions eat up a bank account. Not only do they keep me from experiencing life the way I want to, but they also make damn sure I keep getting the same results I’ve been getting.
I felt a lot of guilt and shame around not being able to curb my own behavior so seeking help felt impossible. Lucky for me, I had a really good Why. My daughter Emerson means the world to me and I wanted to live. Being her Mommy is my greatest honor. I’m so grateful for this bonus time I was given to stay here and watch her grow. I vowed to never take my health or this time with her for granted, and to be the best mom I possibly could be for her. So I was going to have to suck it up, if initially not for me, then for her.
When I set out on this journey, I wasn’t sure I was up for it. So much of it felt impossible and scary. I didn’t know where to start, I hated admitting I didn’t know things, and I sucked at asking for help. I mean I would literally feel panic, but I was committed, and I knew that if I wanted things to be different I was going to have to do different things.
I’m so grateful today for saying yes to this journey as well as for all the help I’ve asked for and received. Friends, family, colleagues, mentors, counselors, therapists, coaches, doctors, surgeons, teachers. . . So many have helped me along the way, and it never diminished what I accomplished or all I took away from my experience. Instead, it enhanced it, made me stronger, and brought about transformation faster.
Today I still consider myself a work in progress, but I’m no longer stuck living a dimmed down version of life running on autopilot. I live intentionally and this level of awareness has granted me access to a life I had only dreamed of.
If you’re experiencing:
- Feelings of disinterest, disengagement, being fed-up, overwhelmed, or overstimulated.
- A serious lack of energy.
- Chronic pain or discomfort.
- Emotional outbursts or mood swings.
- A lack of patience.
- A relentless and hurtful inner critic.
- Trouble being consistent.
- Procrastinating.
- Comfort eating.
- Hyper-focused on body image.
But what you’d like to be experiencing is:
- Feelings of calm, confidence, strength, curiosity, awareness, wonder, gratitude, love & joy
- More energy
- Being comfortable in your own body
- Responding instead of reacting to life’s stressors
- Patience with others and from others
- A shift to a compassionate inner dialogue that motivates instead of demotivates
- Incorporating healthy habits and performing them consistently
- Having time to accomplish everything that is important to you
- Eating nourishing delish foods that satisfy your own specific needs
- A sincere loving respect for your miraculous body and all it can do
Then I want you to know it is possible and you can do it. Also consider hiring a health coach for this journey. A good coach can provide you with the right steps in the right order. They will support you and hold you accountable to your vision, ensuring your inevitable success.
Still have questions or want to know more? I offer a free 60-minute strategy session to help create clarity around what you want, what’s stopping you and what your next steps should be. Email me today at jlogruss@andthenshewoke.com.
