Monday, Feb 29, 2016

Things are starting to get hard. The novelty is wearing off.

So what am I talking about?

Let’s start with exercise. I go three days a week, which isn’t excessive by any stretch, and it’s harder than hell while I’m doing it. Today I was so close to not going. My mind was focused on how hard it was going to be and how hot it is outside.

I don’t have anything “healthier” to be doing for this hour, and I don’t have anything else that needs to be done during this time. I just don’t want to feel the discomfort that inevitably comes for that hour.

Next one. Learning the ins and outs of my website, blog, hosting, and auto-responders is a painfully slow process for me. Lots of reading, watching instructional video, and trying things out with very small gains. It makes my brain hurt and I feel anxiousness around the time it takes to “get to the next part”.

Last one. Spanish is becoming information overload…a lot of grammar, a huge increase in the vocabulary to be learned, and it’s still hard to “hear” words when locals speak them. It is a whole lot of work with very little observable gains.

So I’m at day 49 in Ecuador. These are three of my goals I had when I arrived. If you made a New Year’s Resolution, you are at day 60 today. What do you think? How is it going for you? Are you still exercising? Studying? Learning? Working? Loving? Playing?

Whatever the “it” is for you, are you still doing it? Has the novelty worn off? Have you backed off?

If you are like me, it’s probably hard at this point. The newness is gone, the excitement around the newness is gone, and what remains is only hard work and consistency in getting “it” done.

Transformational change is not easy. If it was, everyone would be doing everything they want to be doing. And it is transformational change we are talking about in achieving lasting goals.

Exercise isn’t about running for an hour…it’s about gratitude for a healthy body, a sharp mind, and a connected spirit. Learning a new business, vocation, or system isn’t about getting it down in a week or a month or a year…it’s about staying focused on what you want to be doing with your life, and what that means for you and the world around you. Speaking a new language isn’t about memorizing words…it’s about breaking down barriers to connect with others and opening up new possibilities.

What ever the “it” is for you and me, transformation in our relationship to the “it” must occur.

Here are three areas I must have in sync with each other for me to find the transformational change I am after to get my “it”:

1. My Language

What words am I using to describe what’s going on, both in my head and out loud to myself and others? Are they words of ability and encouragement? Or are they the other words…the ones that beat me down and keep me down?

2. My Emotions

Can I allow myself to feel joy, satisfaction, and happiness when I know I am doing what I set out to do…even if the results are small and slow in coming? Can I acknowledge feelings of a low mood, frustration, or just plain feeling like shit without judging myself? Can I choose to love myself even in those moments?

3. My body

How do I carry myself? Am I slumping over and looking at the floor when I tell myself, “I can do this”? Or am I standing tall, shoulders back, head held high, telling myself that I am good enough to be doing the “it” and that is exactly what I am going to do.

Try telling yourself you don’t deserve the “it” when you are making yourself stand tall, shoulders back, and head held high. I will be willing to bet you can’t even get those words out in that body posture, and should you be able to, they will not feel true for you.

So what is this is all about?

For me, at Day 49, it is about creating the transformational change I need in order to achieve my goals, the “its”, that are important to me.

I did go exercise today and I used the 3 steps I just shared with you to get it done. I told myself I am exercising to be healthy and I deserve to be healthy. I told myself I am doing what I can do…and whatever that is, it’s good.

While I was pushing my body I let myself find and feel joy and gratitude for my ability to be outside doing something healthy…something I want to be doing. And in pushing my body I affected my posture…picked up my feet, lifted my knees, and basically moved like a person who was exercising.

In the end, I made it through. And I will probably have to do the same thing next time…maybe not, but if I do, I know I can sync my language, my emotions, and my body to get my “it” done.

As I keep doing this I will get the transformational change I am after…and so will you.

Chao!