Happy New Year everyone! This is my first blog article of 2019. It is hard to believe that another year is under way. Not sure about you, but I find it difficult to step right back into the routine of work and function at full speed. I feel like an old tractor that has been sitting out in the cold for a few weeks that is hard to start and will take some time to warm up before using. However, here I am and either I embrace the opportunity with gratitude or complain about all the challenges before me. At this moment, I think I am doing a bit of both.
As I consider the year before me, I can’t help but reflect on the question that I utilize in my work more than any other; what do you want? If I am determined to lead my life by design rather than by default, I have to be clear about the outcomes I want to achieve this year. And I have to think of those outcomes in relationship to me personally, to the relationships that are most important to me and to my work.
To develop some clarity about what I want it is important that I understand and focus on what I really want. I can easily get distracted into thinking that what I really want is more money, two cars (at present we have one), extravagant holidays and a bigger business. What I have learned doing personal development workshops is what people really want is more contentment, satisfaction, peace, passion, joy and love. They want to feel better about themselves and their lives. The material things that we strive so hard to secure are a means to feel some of these things; however, for the most part these feelings are achieved differently.
So; allow me to look at this question from a little different perspective. I am asking myself these days, what do you need?
There are times when my wants pale in comparison to my needs. Usually, it is in those times when my mental, emotional and physical health is compromised and all I really want is to feel healthy…to feel good. I know that I am not alone.
This time of year can be daunting as we experience the longest nights, the deepest cold and the prospect of paying for all those parties and presents we bought in December.
I am still attempting to bounce back from a very busy 2018 and the impact it had on my health. For the second year in a row I landed in the emergency room because my body was unable to keep up with my life. I had just come out of a Connections program, contracted the flu and became so dehydrated that I couldn’t get to the bathroom because my leg cramps were so bad I couldn’t walk.
So, while so many people may be setting goals to achieve success in 2019, I know that what I need right now is to do whatever it takes to be mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. Without that health none of those other goals are achievable.
In response to that need these are some of the things I am committed to doing.
- Eat Healthy: I want to nail down the lifestyle diet that works for me. Yes, I am still committed to a high protein, high fat diet limiting sugar and processed foods. However, I also need to be conscious of what works for my body type and lifestyle.
- Drink less Alcohol: I am the kind of person that has a difficult time just having one drink. Any more than two and it really impacts my mental, emotional and physical health, especially the next day. It is a depressant.
- Exercise: Unfortunately, the way that I exercise is usually extreme and damages my body more than builds it. Right now the exercise that it working best for me is to walk about five to six kilometers a day.
- Rest: I want to create breaks in my day to rest and relax. I want to slow my mind down and not think about work in those moments. Playing the guitar is a good exercise in those moments.
- Couples Activities: I want to set aside time to do things with Christine that are fun for both of us and enriching for the relationship. This past Christmas Christine made cookies and we spend a couple of evenings decorating them together. She kept saying how fun it was that we were doing it together.
- Hanging out with friends: We are taking time to have friends over just to hang out and enjoy each other’s company. Friday afternoon when we do not have programs have become that time. The trick to this event is not to make it about drinking alcohol.
- Regular sleep over’s with grandkids: They bring out the child in me which is always healthy.
These are a few of the things I need to do more of so that I feel healthy.
What are you committed to doing this year?
Terry
