“When you get right down to it, intentional living is about living your best story.” ― John C. Maxwell
I just love this quote! To make a difference and real changes in your life, try to live intentionally and on purpose. Our family loves to watch the TV shows, "Survivor" and "Big Brother", and I think of it as living life as one of the strategic players not afraid to make big moves vs. just being a "floater".
Life is a full of dozens of daily choices (what to wear, what to eat, what to drink, where to go, what to buy, etc). These choices can work for us or against us, especially when it comes to our health. Some choices keep us stuck in our past behaviors and other choices allow us opportunities to move forward.
Evaluate how and why you make the same choices repeatedly throughout the year. What is most important and what brings you the most joy?
Are you stuck?
Stay focused on your health intentions and plan to achieve your goals while including all your important loves and joys. Don't get caught up in the outcome of how much weight or how many inches you should lose-- just enjoy the journey, while "making strides" along the way. Setbacks in all likelihood will happen, but if you can learn to appreciate them, they will offer opportunities to learn better what your body needs or doesn't need to be healthier.
With intentions, such as losing weight or getting healthy, most "know" what they need to do to achieve this, but the reason that it's hard is because they don't quite know how to make sustainable changes. I want to help you bridge the gap between your healthy intentions and healthy actions.
In the spirit of my 2017 theme, start simple with your "moves". Take one healthy action or habit at a time until you feel good about it. Then add another one. Maybe it is to include 30 minutes of daily exercise. Break it down by as little as 5 minutes and work your way up over time.
Don't get caught up in the "I have to's" (i.e. In order to lose weight I have to workout for an hour at 5am --and you're not a morning person). Give me a break! If you are saying "I have to" to exercise or forcing yourself to do so, this action is not going to last. Change it up and simplify by finding something active you like to do instead, at a time that is doable and fits your life.
Bottom line... Don't overthink it, simplify your intentions and before long, those healthy intentions will turn into consistent healthy actions.
Let's get fired Upp,
Nat