And so it begins, the Journey to the Best version of Me
by Rise || Love || Live
This coming Saturday, April 13, 2019, will begin my 100 day countdown to my birthday and the beginning of my journey.
Well, if I am being truly honest this isn’t the “beginning” of my journey, I have been on this road many, many times as I am sure you have as well. However, this time, this path, this opportunity feels different. It feels better, I feel better about it — more committed than ever before.
Please know that I realize I am not broken and neither are you — this isn’t some need to literally “fix” myself as I am awesome — you are awesome and WE are strong.
However, everyone can find opportunities for growth and improvement in one way or another — Health / Fitness / “Diet” / Over-indulging / Prayer / Meditation / Gratitude / Reflection. I think you get the picture!
What do I want to get out of my journey — what can you get out of my journey? As the flight attendant tells us, “Put your own mask on to help yourself first and then you can help others.” I need to help myself first, in order to help others. For me, I need a re-set, a check-in with where my life is, where it is going and what is my purpose. I hope you will follow along on this journey and pick up some good changes that you need (or don’t need, but want) along the way.
I am choosing to begin the best version of myself with the “Whole Life Challenge” ~ a 6-week program that looks at your habits (good and bad) holistically and helps you (supports you) to incorporate 7 GOOD daily habits into your life. When followed — even 90% of the time — these Daily Habits really do work to improve your overall health. This is the 3rd time that I will be doing the challenge. The first time I threw in the towel — gave up if you will because I didn’t like being told “what to do” — frankly I didn’t want to be accountable to myself any longer — well who did that help? Last January, right after losing our fur baby of 13.5 years, I did my 2nd challenge — I did MUCH better and actually lost 7 lbs or so. I gave myself a little slack when it came to the wine “allotment”, I relaxed on that rule and would lose points if I had 2 or 3 glasses of wine vs the 0 to 1. However, I was very pleased that I followed all the other “rules” most of the time.
My mother laughed a little when I told her I was doing this — “Oh, you are being told what to do huh — let me know how that works out!”. Well, I’m really not being told what to do, I am choosing to follow these guidelines, I keep score for myself and myself alone — it is an honor system and if I cheat — as noted above — who does that help?!
The 7 Daily Habits of the Whole Life Challenge: *NUTRITION, *EXERCISE, * MOBILIZE, *SLEEP, *HYDRATE, *WELL-BEING, * REFLECT.
Nutrition: Eat nutritious foods from your food list, Exercise: A minimum of 10 minutes — (walking the dog and yoga can count if you are super stiff like me!), Mobilize: Stretch for a minimum of 10 minutes a day (excited not to be stiff any longer — lol!), Sleep: how much do you sleep now, increase that by 30 minutes and stick to it, Hydrate: drink enough water — same thing calculate what your “water need is” (I have read 50% of your body weight, I’ve read more than that — what I personally need is about 67% of my body weight) and drink that every day, Well-Being: Learn weekly practices to help you feel happier and more connected, Reflect: In the app, reflect on your daily accomplishments, or pitfalls and get support from other WLC members.
In my humble opinion, the Whole Life Challenge is an easy, short-term (hopefully make these long-term changes), supportive program to launch MY JOURNEY.
Along my way, I will be tracking my progress with you, as well as sharing prayers, meditation ideas, inspirational quotes and maybe even some recipes! I truly hope you enjoy my stories and can even benefit from my ideas of positive changes.
I do know that this isn’t going to be easy, as I have really gone backward in the personal growth and eating healthy department, but I am excited about some positive changes!
Come along for the ride!
Until next time … Peace and Blessings, Friends!
Originally published at https://riselovelive.com on April 10, 2019.
