Yesterday was a 4-star day: I maintained the integrity of my calorie budget, I remained refined sugar-free, I exceeded my daily water goal, and I stayed well connected with exceptional support.
My plans for last night were interrupted by Mother Nature. I knew the chance for severe weather existed, I was just hoping it would skip on by us. Abrupt changes in the schedule happen when you do what I do for a living. I'm sure there are many professions that can relate to this. I've learned to pivot and be okay with the changes. Another day awaits and the opportunity to make a plan that goes well will be there.
When the changes are out of my control, it's easier to handle. When the changes are the product of my own resistance, unwillingness, or mood, that takes a little bit more effort to analyze and be okay with it all. The tendency to beat me up for those occurrences can rob me of the energy and focus I need to fashion a different approach that can work better. I'm experiencing some positive progress in this area and it's helping me move forward in areas where I've felt stuck.
I've written a lot about the "perfect start day" over the last eleven years and how releasing this perceived requirement helped me get on a course toward incredible changes. The issue I have is my tendency to compartmentalize this perspective. Releasing the need for a "perfect start day" where my food behaviors are concerned has certainly made a positive impact on my life. However, to this day, I tend to get into that mental barrier in other areas of my life.
The perfect day is always today. The biggest barrier is in thinking that everything must be "figured out" first, before starting. The perfect day, waiting for the perfect plan is a recipe for stuck. The smallest of starts get us unstuck.
From the archives:
It's Monday of a brand new week on the first day of a brand new month!! It's funny, really-- all the years I made a day like this "THE DAY" it all changes. A day like today always stood out to me on the calendar. It's a perfect "start" day! Monday and the first day of the month!! Any day we determine to be "the day" is great--it's wonderful really, changes starts now. But as I look back I can see where this mindset of the perfect "start day" also helped keep me stuck. How? Well...
When I was dead set on having the perfect start day before beginning any kind of personal commitment--and I didn't do as well as I intended, then I'd scrap it and wait until the next perfect start day. It might be postponed a week until the next Monday, or maybe until after a special event, or perhaps I'd get lost into thinking next month might be a better time to start.
Needing the perfect start day became a barrier in front of my positive progress many many many times.
The perfect time is always now.
From deeper in the archives:
Excerpt from December 2009-- Keep in my mind, I've experienced and learned a lot since this was written, specifically about how I needed a recovery mindset rather than a diet mentality mindset--but note, the following still applies--and even though it was written less than a year and a half into this decade-long experience, you can see shades of this realization in the words:
If our ideal weight loss path is something that we can live with forever if the changes in our food behaviors are real and well-intended, then why wouldn't anytime be a good time to start? You know why? Because I always looked at weight loss as a chore.
We've been conditioned our entire lives to believe that losing weight 'is hard work.' I was never successful before, truly successful because I never focused on the positive mental changes I needed to make in order to ease the “pain.” All I focused on back then was how hard it would be...eat less and exercise more, what a struggle that'll be.
It's amazing what a different perspective can do for you. I'm still going to eat and enjoy food, I'm just going to eat responsible portions and perhaps move a little more every day. I'm going to learn what constitutes a “regular” portion, I'm going to enjoy the journey. I'm going to experience some wonderful changes along the way. I'm going to be happy. All the while---I'm still eating what I love, I'm still being me. I don't have to wait for the stars to align properly, you know? Positive perspective, awesome attitude, super high importance level---add them all together and you get success any time of year.
What's also interesting to me is how the tendency to use the "perfect day" motivation still lives in me. As I drifted off last night I was thinking of a few things that need a double down commitment--and low and behold, this "it's Monday and October 1st" came to mind. Old habits, right?
One thing is for sure-- regardless of the date, the practice continues. And if it isn't perfect (doesn't need to be), then I will not scrap it and wait until the next "perfect day." I'll evaluate and make necessary changes now, not relieve myself from the responsibility of change until it looks good on a calendar.
My new website shares a phone number with my podcast, Transformation Planet, and it's always available for you! Have a question about anything discussed on this blog or heard on the podcast? Text me! Do you have a question about your own plan practice? Text it! 580-491-2228 I'll text you back!
Do you own an "I'm Choosing Change" wristband? This wristband can serve as a powerful awareness/mindfulness tool! It certainly does for me. I wear mine proudly, daily, and more and more people are joining me in this movement! You can now order yours directly from my new website! Here's the link to the wristbands: Click HERE!
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Practice, peace, and calm,
Sean
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