Finding Balance

Hey there, So today I want to share with you about my struggle with balance in my life.

I am a Libra, the scales, this unfortunately does not mean always balanced, in fact it means a constant struggle for balance. Always checking and tipping the scales to see what works and what doesn't.

One of the things I constantly struggle to balance is my fitness and exercise health. For years I didn't even do anything, then I started working out around 2007 off and on at the gym, do a 6 week program then nothing for 4 months, then another 3 weeks then nothing.  Around 2008 mid year I really committed and took on a trainer and personal coach. Some of my posts around then will share experiences from then.  In 2010 I started some more transitions in my life, I met my love, I started changing due to stress from work and trying to find balance in my life again now that is was not just about me.

Fast forward to 2016 and once again I try to find balance. Having gone through a major depression, 5 moves and 3 jobs in the last  years, now settled in a town I love with a job I love and an amazing group of women who support each other and we are here. The beginning of this year I had some motivation to work out but still not what I used to have.  I started doing some more reading this year, body talk sessions, journaling and overall soul searching.  I started a 21 day workout program 6 days ago yay! 6 days in! Knowing my previous patterns of extremes and swinging the pendulum too far left and right all these year I think I may have found a balance.

For me finding time to work out was difficult because I was trying to fit fitness into my life now how I used to fit it in before. Before when I lived in a great city, when I was single, when I was in my 20's when I was a different version of myself.  Now I have to admit I have learned something from just writing this post, what used to work for me in the past, doesn't necessarily mean it is going to work for me NOW.  Now I am in a wonderful relationship, and Im in a small *currently freezing* town where outdoor running in December is, well, silly. And where my days are shorter in sunlight and longer in freedom.

So I took some time and dug deep to see why I wanted to work out? Did I even like it? What type of workouts do I REALLY enjoy? Then I had a look at my day, I used to work out in the evenings and it worked really well for me. Get off work, head to the gym for an hour or more and be home for 8,9, 10 pm to pass out on my bed after a less than nutritional meal. So I have had to analyze my life now,  My evenings are no longer a efficient or stress free time to work out, I get home at 4pm and My fiancé and I spend the little time we have together in a day enjoying each other company.  Now sure He has offered to make all dinners, and support me and sacrifice that time together for my personal health but I don't WANT to. I like getting home and having a glass of wine and discussing my day. I love it.

SO next option, Mornings. UUUUGH I have a routine in the mornings, I get up I make coffee and I don't talk to anyone for at least 2 hours. 1 of those full hours is coffee. The second is shower, dress, and eat. Phil and I car share so when he arrives it's go time. I can't be fa la la ing around in the morning. I have my routine and I like it.  Evenings after Phil goes to bed was off too because I'm tired by then and really who wants to workout AFTER dinner. BOO

This was the struggle I was having. I tried after work, Nope, the stress of thinking about my workday while lifting was not working. Mornings, rolling out of bed and starting a workout within minuets of opening my eyes HELL NO. That only worked for a total of three weeks then back to wake, coffee.

My struggle wasn't about if I liked working out. I do. Feels great, at the right time. It was about finding the right ME time. When nothing else is pressing me for my attention, when I have sufficiently treated myself to something I love and when I actually have the spunk to do the workouts

I have been trying this routine with my new 21 day plan. I wake up 35 min earlier. The extra 5 is for the snooze button. I get up I have coffee, YAY my favourite part. Then around 6:20am when I am sufficiently caffeinated and awake, I put on my workout gear, grab my water and head upstairs to my home gym.  I do 30 mins working out. I shower eat and by then It is 7:50am and I am in the car.

I feel this one is going to work because all I have to adjust is going to bed about 30 min earlier (no prob whole house is asleep anyhow) and getting up 35 min earlier. I still get coffee, and quite time but I also get my sweat on.

Lets see if this works long term. I have faith.

Nothing works unless you work it.
R

Being AWESOME!!

It has been a GREAT DAY!!!!! My Boyfriend (more serious than that he is my MAN life partner mastermind alliance) anyhow, My man just finished his schooling for Baking and he has been getting opportunities thrown at him today it is great SO PROUD. Aside from that the sun was shining and things are just looking really good for us right now. Which brings me to my post title, being AWESOME, I was reminded today again how important it is to have a partner that is right for you, Phil and I are without a doubt meant to be together, our core beliefs about a partnership and careers are very similar. We are equals in our partnership, all responsibilities are shared, money earned is ours and our careers are our own, we have a like for each others friends but in only some cases are we friends with each others friends. We support each other in what we strive for.

It makes for a much easier life having a partner who will support you in your life personally and professionally For example Phil is a baker, this calls for graveyard or early morning work hours, I am an interior designer and this calls for long hours some times and travel. We work with these realities.

It reminds me a book I really love and we both follow to our best ability - the four agreements

1.Be impeccable with your word
2.Never assume
3.Don't take it personally
4.Always do your best

It works - be AWESOME with everything you do, be awesome in your relationships be awesome with your self be awesome in your career - Trust.

Lesson one

So for the first time in two weeks I am actually up early-er-ish.... I am normally up at 5 or 5.30 and reading and doing all sorts of things. As I have talked about before I have been really tired the last while. I finally don't have a headache this morning either, I did get a neck and shoulder massage from a friend so that's part of it, I also changed my alarm clock on my phone to a new song, I found this one that seemed nice last night, bit of a hard rock type Pantera, Metallica maybe a little... well I'm AWAKE... it went off this morning, my gawd... I may or may not keep this, pro - it wakes me up con - little extreeeeeeem maybe.

So last night was life coach night,, of course I was a total mess again, I have been so busy this week and doing extra hours with photo shoots and a job isn't going as planned and the clients are coming home today and bla bla bla STRESS.. the reality is I don't have a stress management plan

We got right into it last night, I have been learning lots and attempting to apply these new habits to my life and for the most part there are some things that are making an impact but really I don't seem to be getting it.... I was interpreting the word Intention in the wrong way, I had the wrong paradigm as to what and why we have intention.

In my book it talks about your paradigms being like maps to a city.. you may have a great map of Chicago lots of detail and you really know it and can navigate perfectly... but if your in Dallas and your reading your Chicago map.... your going nowhere.

The interpretation of what and why we do things are our paradigms our maps I was interpreting Intention as make a plan and do it... get the book read the book make the notes DONE. Make the lunch the night before, have more time. done. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yes I know shocking right, I also thought that was correct.

Jade explained Intention with the right words and the right description for me to understand clearer...

Intention - the meaning and energy behind something. The question behind Intention is what experience do you want to create?

For example why do am I getting up in the morning and writing my my blog? - cause it gets my thoughts out no. Because when I write out what I am thinking and share it, I connect with it better, and this makes me feel good, it releases stress and clears my thoughts. I also feel good knowing that by sharing my blog here, someone might read it and it will make a difference in their life.

We talked about using the right words to describe things and it really makes a difference in what words you use... Its the Second Agreement - Be Impeccable with your word - The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz.