Devoted - being wholly committed, showing strong enthusiasm, involving deep dedication to goals and placing deep emotional and energetic investment into those goals. Each year, I choose one word that drives my focus on my actions for the year. This year, my word is DEVOTED. Being devoted to my wellness, my family and my school & studio communities is going to take commitment, discipline and focus. Each day's actions will be in alignment to my goals. Wellness includes mind, body and spirt!!! Each weekend, I've been meal prepping my breakfast and lunch. This week I've added a sweet treat. When I don't have a plan for what I eat, I end up choosing unhealthy and high calorie items that detour my entire day. I was on track through the summer, but then the stress of school and chaotic schedules messed up my diligence to my nutrition. I was munching on the office candy box, nibbling on lounge treats and stopping too often at Starbucks for a venti hot caramel macchiat...
Several times in my life, I've been told "you can't do it". One of my core memories is my high school college counselor telling me that I shouldn't even bother applying for college because I wasn't the best student behaviorally and my grades reflected my challenges with my social emotional mindset. I then became hell-bend in proving him wrong. When I became a principal in 2015, I wanted to find him and tell him that he was wrong, and that I did become successful. I was enough and I did have worth, even as a difficult student. I had become a strong woman, effective leader, loving wife and mother. But, it turns out that he passed away and I wasn't able to rub my success in his face.
But truthfully I didn't make the goals, sacrifices, appropriate choices or personal developments for him. I did it because I truly believed in myself and knew that I could be more than the delinquent high school student. I had a fire within me!!!
Sometimes we thrive within our heat, our fire radiates within ourselves and passes on to others around us, and sometimes we fizzle out and need that spark to reignite the passion for our own ambitions, joys and well-being.
In the yoga Niyamas one of the areas that we focus on is Tapas - which is an understanding or the concept of persistence and perseverance. We can achieve what we put our mind to!! When we commit to specific tasks, actions or habits we can develop discipline, enthusiasm and willpower to achieve our goals. Recognizing your own inner strength can will keep yourself moving towards the directions of your goals to achieve your own personal success.
Practicing yoga is beyond the poses or asanas, it is really getting inside yourself, confronting your own insecurities, negative self-talk and persevering beyond discomfort to push your mind and body to places it's never been before. I didn't need outside people telling me I couldn't do something, I was doing it to myself.
Imposters syndrome is doubting your accomplishments, fear that others will doubt your abilities, even though there is clear evidence of competency and knowledge. There have been so many times while I'm holding a pose that my mind goes to past instances, actions or future events where I begin to doubt myself. Many times I believed that I really couldn't make a difference, present on a certain topic, or I'll perseverate on someone not liking a decision that I made. There are times that I judge my body, my physical abilities and truly feel that I'm not enough for myself, my family or my school.
I've had to persist in staying in the present moment, releasing control and being happy and content with my decisions, my changing body and understanding that someone else's perception of me is not my issue it is there's.
When choosing self-discipline there are sacrifices that need to be decided upon. What are you willing to change in your life to reach your goals? What is serving you and what is harming you?
Some of the most beneficial habits that have helped me on this journey is staying organized. My Google calendar is essential in reviewing my tasks for the day, events my kids are involved in, when my husband is available and when I'm able to focus on my own self-care. Once I have my schedule aligned, I'm able to sign up for classes or events that bring me joy, allow me to engage in my goals and support my personal or professional growth. Then I STICK WITH IT!!!!
I make sure that I eliminate physical or mental excuses. I'll change into my gym clothes before leaving work, because I know the minute I get home I'll head into rest mode and it will be extremely hard for me to leave the house. I also try to make sure that dinner is somewhat planned with having meat defrosted or even purchasing Hello Fresh meals for easy preparation. I'll even have my clothes chosen for the week in my closet to I'm not wasting time in the morning trying to figure out what I'm going to wear or digging through the laundry basket for clean underwear.
A goal for this school year is to do morning workouts. I noticed that my morning energy is somewhat lacking and it takes me several cups of coffee and general lollygagging to get me situated at school for my day. So for my birthday I was gifted a great cable workout machine. I've decided to start small, 15-20 minutes using videos from my favorite YouTuber - FitbyMik and adding in some cable sets to my general routine. I'll have to wake up earlier, not hitting the snooze button several times, but if I want to achieve my goals of maintaining my weight and increasing my muscle mass than I have to put in the work. I also enjoy how I feel after my yoga sessions and after lifting; my endorphins are boosted and I feel a real sense of accomplishment and reduced stress.
One of the ways to develop persistence and perseverance is having accountability and seeing growth over time. Using a workout tracker is an excellent way to see how far you've come and keep track of the days that you are actually putting yourself and your health first. The attached picture is my favorite tracker that I print out, put in a binder and fill out each workout day. I know this may sound a little old school, but I like to be able to flip through the pages see my progress and determine how I can increase my lifting weight or reps. Remember you have to put in the work with persistence and perseverance to see positive and lasting results.
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