Recently, after some significantly stressful weeks, I turned to my friend and said “It’s ok, it will work out exactly how it is supposed to. It can’t possibly happen any other way.”
What? Was that me?
I assure you, it isn’t my usual stance. I’m someone who wants things to be done right and well and in a consistent and thought out manner, especially in my work life. After taking in the stunned look on my companion's face, I was compelled to add, “it must be all this yoga I’m doing….Weird.”
Honestly, I was just as surprised at what came out of my own mouth as she was.
It’s actually kind of amazing how your stress level is so intertwined with your physical self as well as how much your physical health impacts your mental health. There is no separation. Anyone who thinks about wellness at all says they know this, but we resist, and even fight taking measures to improve our physical self in order to increase our ability to cope with every day stress. Why?
When I run, I can handle whatever the day throws at me so much better….but it’s cold, wet, or hot. I don’t have enough time. It gets dark too early. It gets light too late.
When I am going to the gym, I feel happier….but it’s expensive. It’s boring. I can only exercise outside. I don’t want to talk to people. I hate that color purple. (My apologies to my local affordable gym chain)
Yoga centers my mind while strengthening my body….but I have to roll out the yoga mat, I don’t have time, I’m tired, I’m sore from last time, I have too much to do. Yes, I have seriously not done my daily yoga because I didn’t want to roll out the mat!
Eating healthy gives me so much more energy…but I don’t want to go to the store, healthy food costs more, I can’t live without chocolate, I like beer, I have to think too hard about what to fix…
I had to stop myself. I could go on and on about this one.
Hiking makes me feel peaceful….but my (insert rotating body part) hurts, I don’t want to wake up that early on a weekend, It's so hot……Actually there aren’t many reasons why I won’t hike.
Can anyone relate? I would bet that, despite all the happy, positive articles out there on health and wellness, both mental and physical….most people are reluctantly well. In fact I’m counting on it.
Do you feel reluctant to be well? Do you want to exercise, quit smoking, lose weight but you find that you aren't jumping out of bed excited to do it? Motivation is such an interesting thing. Have you ever tried to motivate someone who is just not motivated? Impossible. Yet, we are constantly trying to motivate our unmotivated, reluctant selves and many of us are actually successful!
We all know that if we commit to something for long enough, it will become a habit. Some people say 30 days. Maybe there is no magical number, you just have to keep doing it. Pick an activity you feel the least reluctant to do and somewhere between 1 and 30 days you have a habit. Why does this matter? Because if an activity becomes a habit you are less likely to use those excuses when rolling out a mat is just a part of your morning routine, but why is it so hard to roll out that yoga mat?
Follow me on Instagram @juniperrooted. Send me your pictures of overcoming your reluctance and being well!
Find your roots....
Mary
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