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In a recent post, I challenged you to think about what is missing in your life and what is stopping you from incorporating what you want into your busy schedule.
Today’s post takes this conversation one step further and includes a homework assignment for the brave at heart.
I want you to be honest with yourself. Tell yourself what is stopping you. Be specific. Be Personal.
For me, I am currently missing exercise in my life (again). This is one area in my life where again and again and again I fall of the wagon.
I want to exercise every day, but I’m not exercising.
I feel better when I exercise, but I’m not exercising.
I make better eating choices when I exercise, but I’m not exercising.
I have more energy when I exercise, but I’m not exercising.
I’m letting my body down, but I’m not exercising.
What is stopping me?
What are you not doing that you want to be doing?
Today’s homework assignment…
1. Take ten minutes (and only ten minutes) to write down all of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions related to what you want to incorporate into your life. This may be a difficult exercise, but the goal is to be honest with yourself so you can build awareness and identify action steps.
2. Think about what you need to let go of in your life to make room for what you want in your life.
Share your discoveries in the comments section below…
What’s missing in my life? Sleep and exercise..I know the benefits of exercising, but it just slips away again, every day!
Hi Stacey: I exercise five days a week, every week without fail 🙂 What am I not doing? I want to write more guest posts, and every week I put it off. I put a lot of effort into my blog posts and I can’t seem to be able to make the effort to get one more blog post written a week so that I can post my weekly 3 and send out a guest post.
Marelisas last blog post..Productivity and Foie Gras
BC – Me too. 🙁 I’m blaming it on the weather, but need to deep digger for the real reason.
Marelisa – I’m envious of your workout routine. I’d like to write more guest posts too. In 2009 I’m going to work on baby steps of 1 guest post a month.
Exercise….
Me too…I had an injury on my foot and then I didn’t work out my normal 3 times a week!
Hi
This is actually a great exercise! I found a topic that I wouldn’t have thought of targeting. I have some thinking to do before I write more on it 😉
Thank you!
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliets last blog post..What To Do When Someone Is Unpleasant Towards You
My work is what stops me the most. I have to spent 8h doing some paper work and this truly sucks all my energy. In the crisis times I just don’t have courage to change it…
This one’s easy Stacey. Easy, and yet…hard…
It’s easy for me to identify the area in my life that I want to put more effort into. And yet hard – in both saying it here (I’m back for the second time) and in beginning the process of doing it.
So, what is “it”? Well…and I have been spending some time on this…just I need to do more. I’m seriously considering going down the road of writing a book. A real, hard cover, published book. In fact, I’ve began the process of what it takes to make it happen. And that has been an exciting process. The thing I’m not doing, though, is really starting to write out what will be in this book. I think I have this real fear of “putting myself out there” – in a new way – and it’s holding me back from really starting. I’m going down the road of what it takes to get published, I’m going down the road lining up contacts that can help make this happen. And yet…I need to write…first and foremost… I’m not sure if it’s coming across here, but writing this, this morning is uncomfortable for me. Very much so. Maybe that’s good. Maybe that’s what I need right now. To write this down, to say it out loud, outside of just my family hearing it, or the coach I’m working with. Still….whew…difficult…
Diane – One option is to do some upper body exercises while sitting down. If I can’t get my feet moving right now, maybe I can work on lifting weights from my office chair. I think I need baby steps to get my groove back.
Juliet – Great! I look forward to hearing more about this journey of yours. Thanks for the feedback.
Zaslony – Can you think of micromovements you can incorporate into your life to balance what you do at work and your true passions?
Lance – A real hard cover published book! Yeah! That is exciting and is also on my dream list. Saying it out loud is powerful and it also expands your support group. Sharing this great news builds excitement for others (for me) and inspires others (me) to write more and plow past the fears. If your real fear is “putting yourself out there” try focusing on the exercise at hand (writing) and not the outcome (putting yourself out there). As J.D. once told me, try to focus on the ball and not the scoreboard. I look forward to hearing about your progress!
Hi Stacey,
I liked your concise yet thought-provoking post. My life is generally wonderful, so it was hard for me to think of what I really want and what’s stopping me. I have goals and all that, but that’s to keep meaningfully busy rather than to fill an empty area of my life. Perhaps I should think about a serious long-term relationship – what’s stopping me is I’m happy on my own and like travelling light. Maybe I’ll work on this next year. 🙂
Daphnes last blog post..Planning For The Year Ahead (Part 2)
Daphne – Welcome to CreateaBalance.com! I’m married and also enjoy being on my own and traveling light. Since my daily life is filled with serious relationships (my husband and my children) I make it a priority to have alone time, to travel on vacation by myself, and find the space to be “me”.
I need to do weight bearing exercises. I’ve procratinated about this forever. I need to run less to make room for it! Great exercise.
Tess – I want to do weight bearing exercises too. I need to convince myself that even a little goes a long way over time.
Stacey
As a mother of three, I have to exercise first thing in the morning or it won’t get done. I know if I get a cup of coffee in my hand without exercising that I won’t be able to “find the time” later on in the day.
The funny thing is, when I exercise – there is very little that I want to do that I don’t do. If I let that plate stop spinning and fall – well, the rest of the plates quickly follow suit.
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Hi Stacey – I have had the same battle with exercise for the past 2 years or so. Everything goes well for me when I go for long walks every day – I get better muscle tone (der), my emotions settle down, I eat heaps better etc etc. I’m picking up now – and feeling the benefits.
This is actually the sort of thing I was referring to in my post ‘Why we sabotage ourselves’.
For some strange reason it is nice to read about the struggles that people have with the word “exercise.” It is just as just as encouraging to read about the those that are on a positive path with exercise.
You will get it back. You have noticed that is was missing and sometimes that is all it takes.
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Kathy – That is great and honest advice. I feel the same way. When my exercise routine slips other things start to slip too. Maybe it’s a symptom. Maybe it’s a sense of control. I am going to make an effort to exercise in the morning. Thanks!
Robin– Exactly. I’m totally self sabotaging by not exercising. I know all of the benefits. Ugh…
Cricket – I’m happy to know my struggle with exercising is lifting you up! Thanks for having in faith in me. All for one and one for all!
I just began exercising regulary again since I had my first child and it hsa done wonders for my overall feel, mentally and physically. Pushing yourself for 2 weeks is the hard part, then it becomes a routine!