I woke up this morning to JJ Virgin's podcast where she was interviewing Hal Elrod, the author of Miracle Morning. The thing that stood out the most to me was when he said that once he started getting up in the morning instead of hitting the snooze, he started accomplishing his goals and his income doubled! That makes sense to me. If you get up first thing and focus on the important things and "frame your day" as JJ called it, you can't help but succeed. It seems to be one of the top practices of the most successful people. I would like to say that I jumped out of bed right away and got with it, but I hit snooze a couple more times. It's a bad habit that I want to break, so I think I'll start by reading the book!
I listened to the Chalene Johnson Show "The Ultimate Exercise Routine" podcast the other day and it made me think about something I've never really thought about before and that is my deep-seated feelings about exercise. I admit it, I'm from the school of thinking that exercise is a chore. Of course, once I start exercising, I feel good, but getting myself to do it consistently is like pushing a Mac truck uphill.
Chalene did a mind exercise where she asked her listeners the first thing that comes to mind when you think of exercise or movement as a child? Is it positive or negative?
I have a few thoughts that immediately come to mind when I think about exercise as a child and they are all negative.
My first thought is when I was in 5th or 6th grade. I was big for my age. I was 11 and looked like I was 18. My body was overdeveloped. I think I wore a size C bra even then. I was in the gym, trying out for the basketball team. The coach was young, maybe in his early 20's. He had us running drills back and forth the full length of the gym. As I was running, he came up beside me and made a comment about me having big boobs. I immediately slowed down and became self-conscious any time I ran they my breasts didn't bounce up and down. I also remember always being last to be picked on a team in gym class, coming in last when I ran, and last even on the hippity hop races. I decided sports was not my thing!
The second part of Chalene's mind exercise was to think about movement you loved as a child. I had to think a little harder about that one, but a couple things came to mind.
I loved it in elementary school when the PE teacher would get out a giant parachute and all the kids would circle around it and move to create wind under the parachute. We would move it up and down and all around. I remember it being fun to feel part of the group, not to be singled out, and the colors were so pretty.
I also liked to play jump rope with my friends at recess. I liked Hopscotch too. I loved to skip. Skipping made me feel happy. Even now I think it's probably impossible to skip and feel sad at the same time. I also remember going on a hike with a small group of kids, that felt like such an adventure. I loved it.
Swimming is probably the thing I loved the most as a child. I never remember being afraid of the water. I would jump in any body of water no matter how dirty it was. Creeks, ponds, lakes, mud puddles, it didn't matter to me. I didn't think about snakes or germs. Playing with the water hose was a blast too. I would offer to wash the car just so I could play with the water hose.
When I was a teenager, I loved to walk around the "big block" with my best friend. The big block was a four mile square near the tiny town we lived in called "Herbst". It is surrounded by cornfields in east central Indiana. I looked forward to waking around the big block with my friend. We would sing sings, talk about boys, our plans for the future, and whatever else crossed our mind. It never seemed like exercise, just hanging out with a friend.
I'm glad to see that I also have positive childhood memories about exercise. Chalene challenged us to focus on the exercises and movements that made us happy as a child because that can lead us to our "soul mate" workout, something we look forward to doing instead of something that makes is feel self-conscious or that we have to force ourself to do.
It never crossed my mind before that my sub-conscious could be associating exercise with early childhood negative experiences and trying to protect me. The mind is a curios thing. It fascinates me to continue learning how the mind works and use that knowledge to live my best life. I believe awareness plays a bug role in progress and transformation. Thanks Chalene!
Now I'm headed to the park to walk with that same best friend from high school that I walked around the big block with (we are blessed to have kept in touch all these years). Tomorrow, I may mix it up by going skipping in the pool.
I love connecting with positive people online (and in person). I have some friends that share the most uplifting posts on Facebook. Today, my virtual friend Bruce Fowler shared his friend's post who shared quotes from the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. (Isn't it cool how you can learn through the power of social media?!)
Here is the part of the post that spoke to me:
"Unfortunately, many of us had discipline forced upon us as children. Naturally, we rebelled against an externally imposed structure. We were not shown that true discipline always comes from within, and the motivation for that urge is love. When we are doing what we love, when we are pursuing something that has meaning, discipline comes naturally... discipline liberates rather than confines you." ~ Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
The word discipline has always struck terror in my inner child. I spent a lifetime running from discipline because I had discipline in the worst sense of the word forced upon me as a child. When I grew up, the word discipline was like a landfill where I tossed my pain from childhood. I stayed as far away from that word as I could.
Whatever definition you give discipline, look at the other end of the scale and that is where you would find me. I didn't use discipline in anything including myself or my kids. I ate what I wanted, I exercised if and when I wanted to, I spent money on whatever my kids or I wanted leaving bills unpaid, I worked when I wanted and I didn't tolerate anyone who tried to force discipline upon me including my employers. I quit jobs I loved because I refused to have any authority figure reigning over me doling out commands. I didn't discipline my children and wouldn't let anyone else discipline them either including their father. If he tried, it would cause a fight. I paid a high price for rebelling against discipline which extended beyond me to my family.
It took many years of personal development for me to accept that discipline can be a good thing and is absolutely necessary for success. The shift I had to make in my mind was away from associating discipline to external control and punishment. Even the dictionary defines discipline as punishment: "The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience"... "Control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior"... "To punish (someone) as a way of making sure that rules or orders are obeyed."
Discipline = Punishment, Discipline = Control, Discipline = Obey, Discipline = Rules, Discipline = Pain... that was my association that made my innate flight or fight response kick in like nothing else I have ever experienced in my life. Even writing about the word and long-associated definitions makes me want to rebel.
Once I started studying personal development and successful people I realized that there is an entirely different meaning of the word discipline. It doesn't have to be a form of punishment. It can be for your greater good. Merriam-Webster also includes this expanded definition: "To train (yourself) to do something by controlling your behavior" and "To train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control." It is this definition of discipline that I have come to respect and am becoming acquainted with after a quarter century of running away from it.
The post reminded me about the type of discipline that empowers you to pursue your passion and live a life of meaning and purpose. I was inspired to immediately get the referenced book, "The Power of Habit" so I can discover more about how to develop the discipline it takes to live my best life, reach my highest potential, and of course share my insights to help inspire others to live their best life too!
"Once you understand habits, it's like someone gave you a flashlight and a crowbar and you can get to work." ~ Charles Duhigg
What I found most fascinating about The Power of Habit is how it shines a bright light on discipline. No longer is it a dark, enforced obedience, but a neural pathway in your brain that is developed by your daily routine.
So, armed with this deeper understanding of habits, I am creating new habits that will help me stay on track with my Vegformation journey. My morning routine will include exercise just as brushing my teeth and taking a shower are part of my morning routine. I made an appointment to get a mani/pedi which I will use as a reward for my new habit of exercising first thing in the morning. I think I'm going to like this new way of forming habits!
I have been a fan of Beachbody since discovering their program about five years ago. I had heard of Beachbody when they first came out but I thought it was for hardcore exercise enthusiasts. I had no idea of their vast library of workouts. Once I found out that they not only have a wide range of workouts but an active and supportive community I was in. I became a coach so I could get the discount they offer to their affiliates. I collected several of the workout programs and also loved to drink Vegan Chocolate Shakeology.
Then we had the fire last August that wiped out everything we own including all my Beachbody DVDs. I remember thinking how I wish all my programs were available online so I could access them. I messaged the Beachbody CEO, Carl Daikeler on Facebook wondering if and when workouts would be available in an online library. Apparently, I wasn't the only one making this request because Beachbody on Demand is here! Now I not only have access to the programs I purchased, but 150 of their workouts for only $2.99 a week! I will gladly give up a bag of popcorn at the movies (which I shouldn't be eating anyway) to have access to these workouts and celebrity trainers!
I got so excited when I saw a post about Beachbody on Demand (check out the hashtag #BOD to learn more about the program and see what early adopters are saying about it) that I immediately signed back up to be a Beachbody coach. I not only want the discount, but I want to have access to my favorite workouts anytime, anywhere. I LOVE technology! I also want to help others as I make my Vegformation wellness journey. So many people have told me to wait until I get in shape to share my journey with others, but I don't agree. I think we all have a story to tell and can inspire each other to make positive change.
The fitness experts all say that the best exercise is the one you will do. With Beachbody workouts being available anytime, anywhere, I can skip the excuses and get consistent with my routine. I'm starting with Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer. I am committing to doing this workout first thing in the morning when I get up. I'm on day two! I invite you to join me on this exciting online platform.
