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Sometimes I have a huge inspiration that drives me towards my blog topic and other times, I don’t exactly have writer’s block but I also don’t have a subject shouting at me. This week is the latter – perhaps because I sometimes worry that I am repeating myself over and over again or perhaps because I’m in a bit of a reflective mood myself. But in any event, here goes…
I’ve been finding lots of extra stress out there in my travels – maybe it’s the post-holiday blues or the fact that it’s winter or simply a beginning of the year ramp up that has everyone on edge. My clients all seem to be working harder than ever – are busier and having a more difficult time pulling themselves away from work to get to class. When they do get to me, their little brows are furrowed and their bodies are showing all the signs of a rough day.
But it’s not just business stresses that seem to be weighing on everyone. I think the New Year brings new expectations – the need to re-evaluate our lives and make changes. But with those changes, we frequently put a little extra pressure on ourselves. I think what happens is that as soon as we decide we need to make a change – job, house, nutrition, exercise, relationship – we want that change to happen immediately. We are disappointed in ourselves if two weeks into the year we haven’t accomplished all our goals. Kind of silly I know – but patience is a virtue that’s difficult to embody.
All of that said, let me ask you to do a body/mind/spirit check. What are you feeling? If the answer is stressed, disappointed, melancholy or uninspired – let’s figure out together how to get through this period and actually reach our goals without giving ourselves an aneurism in the process.
The first thing I try to do in situations like this is to start fresh every day. This means keeping in mind the things I love about my life/current situations. For me, one of those things is how much I love my job – how lucky I feel to have my work and personal life (and any overlap) filled with the most amazing, interesting, and giving human beings on the planet. I look at my health and wellness and what my body can do and give a little shout of joy. Next I approach my goals with a one day at a time approach. Before Pilates, I was the princess of living in the future – everything was about where I wanted to go, what I wanted to accomplish – it was all planning. Now, I try to be the queen of in the now. And part of this process is letting go of the things I can’t control. Trusting that if I do my best – make my best decisions – behave towards others in a kind and generous way – work smart – pay attention to the details and to what is going on not just around me but also within me – life will unfold as it should.
I don’t know about you but I get into trouble when I try too hard. Any situation I try to force only causes me frustration, angst and disappointment – but when I live my life every single day as if it was just that – a single day – those days pile on top of one another and my life and goals fall into place. I try not to allow the expectations of others to impact me too greatly. I don’t allow the bad mood someone else is in or their plan to foil mine. Now for me, that’s easier to do. For example – if my clients are in a bad mood – I just work them harder – sort of break that bad mood. I know that when your co-worker or boss dumps their mess at your feet, you can’t simply put their legs in table-top and go on with your day. But look at those little interruptions as your daily challenges – conquer them. And then, the next day, refocus your goals and mark one more day off in your journey to achieving them.
So the point – if I’ve got one is this. January blues run rampant – don’t let the holiday let down or the fact that you haven’t lost 20 pounds in the last two weeks or you didn’t get that new job or promotion yet throw you into a funk. Just get up tomorrow, stretch, get out of bed and start again. After all – if you really thing about it, it’s always the journey that’s the fun part. So, get to it – go have some fun!