November 17th, 2018 Framework

November 17th, 2018 Framework

Yesterday: I maintained the integrity of my reduced calorie budget, I remained refined sugar-free, I exceeded my daily water goal, and I stayed well connected with exceptional support.

A daily practice; a framework of pillars holding up each day, for me, is imperative for my continued stability. The first thing I do each day involves humbly admitting I don't "got this" and I need help if I'm to have another on-plan day. The activities of the day can be wildly different than the day before or the next, but if I make sure the framework is assembled at the start of the day, then my chances of making it through are greatly increased. The days where I rush through my morning routine, cutting corners, are the most challenging days for me.

I stayed busy at work yesterday--then completed an afternoon location broadcast from a small car dealer. I made it home with plenty of time to prepare dinner before heading out to a concert where I was set to make the opening announcements and introduce the artists. I didn't stay for the entire concert, I rarely do (one of these days I should), but I needed to get a few other things done before calling it a night.

I don't have any location broadcasts today--and that's rare this time of year, so the schedule will be mine. I'm still working-playing catch-up, really, with my production work at the studio, plus some laundry and cleaning to do before picking up mom for an evening trip to our hometown in order to visit with family in from Michigan for their annual visit.

I plan on carefully navigating today's experience with a firm embrace of the non-negotiable elements serving to strengthen the framework of this daily practice.   

Maintaining the boundaries of our non-negotiable elements fosters growth in every other area of this process. When we disregard those boundaries, it stunts our growth and the result is often: We feel stuck and feel like we're doing the same thing over and over.

If consistently maintaining the boundaries of our plan is what brings growth and a natural evolution of the plan--and that consistency is what brings about positive progress, then we must first look at the plan--and make sure it's something we can maintain.

If it's too extreme, we're setting ourselves up for disappointment.

But if we start small and with simplicity, and it's something we can work with inside the boundaries of the plan--that's when something magical starts happening. The challenge becomes the action of releasing judgment for what we might perceive to be an imperfect or incomplete plan--when all we're trying to do is get started from a place where consistency is the focus--and trusting that this approach will allow for a natural evolution of our plan. On the opposite side: If we decide we can't move forward unless everything is perfect within some elaborate "ideal" plan, we're setting ourselves up for a serious struggle with starts and stops.

One of the biggest threats to my consistency is emotion/stress levels.

One thing that's really helped me in this area is to examine not only my current state of mind and emotion but also my expectations for food at any particular moment.

Do I expect it to take me away from and improve emotional/stressful circumstances?

Or Do I expect it to simply provide energy and nourish me physically?

Looking at my own expectations pushes me in the direction I need to make more progress toward handling things in ways that truly work, instead of me constantly relying on and believing that escaping into the food will help.

The food does provide a temporary reprieve from the circumstances at hand, but it's never improved the things I avoid, ever. In fact, when I turn to food for these things, it compounds my issues. I try to remember that often.

My continued recovery depends on the daily practice of my plan. I often refer to the different elements of my plan as my "rails of support." I hold onto those rails every day. If ever I wake and say, "look, no hands," get ready to witness a hard fall.

Framework set, rails gripped, let's do Saturday!

Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean