Several years ago, one of our coaches set a really extraordinary goal for herself. She wanted to become a bodybuilder. That’s a goal that takes a lot of dedication – time, effort, money, and serious commitment. In her case, it also involved child care (yes, she had very young children, and moms know what that means about how your body feels).
Her first step was to make a public declaration. She said, “I AM AN ATHLETE.”
It made all the difference in the world to her. It was not just a fitness goal, it was the definition of Shelagh as a person. Just four words changed her life.
It made all of us at Marilu.com look at her differently, too. As one of her support networks, her words gave us an image of her. We supported her image and her goal based on those four words.
Use your words wisely. You are who you think you are.
What words do you use to describe yourself?
Are you the person you describe yourself to be?
Is it time to find some new words that fit your goals?
We have a friend who celebrated a non-milestone birthday last fall. She’d had a rough year, physically and emotionally, and she decided that the best way to move on was to have a big birthday bash. So she invited friends from around the country, as well as local friends, and they ate well, and danced hard, and sang loud, and played silly party games. Most importantly, she told them all how much joy they brought to her life, and they told her about the joy she brought to their lives.
We know a young woman who is celebrating her 24th birthday tomorrow (Happy Birthday E!). She’s treating this birthday as a milestone – it’s the kickoff for her “countdown to the golden birthday” year. She is taking the entire year to celebrate her life, and she’s let her friends and family know all about it, and asking them to join her in a variety of parties and events through the coming year.
Celebrate your own life, and the lives of the people you love, today and every day.
Talk about the joy you bring to each other’s lives.
Plan a fun event for your friends to join you in feeling good about life – maybe a spa day, maybe a picnic, maybe a boat ride, maybe a weekend away.
Pick a theme song that celebrates your life, and play it each morning.
Light a special candle to remind you of your light in the world.
Collect stories and photos about your life in a journal.
Cook your favorite meal every month on your birthdate.
It’s the first day of our all new first class of 2010. If you haven’t signed up yet, do it now and don’t miss a day. If you’re already a member, then head to class – check your email, and pop onto the class page to see what’s in store for you.
What does it mean to live with inTENtion? At Marilu.com, it means making conscious choices – almost like making commitments instead of choices.
This song is one of our current favorites, and while it talks about telling people you love them (instead of taking relationships for granted), it also works for the other choices (commitments?) we make in a day. “86400 seconds in a day to turn it all around or throw it all away” – every decision to eat a vegetable instead of a bag of fritos or a candy bar, every decision to walk your errands instead of driving them, every decision to take care of yourself is a way to turn it all around and have the Best.Year.Ever.
And just in case you need reminding
Girl you’re beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
You know, we’re not reminded enough that we’re beautiful.
That we should never sell ourselves short, or settle for a relationship that’s less than we deserve.
That we’re worth more.
If a journey implies a destination, then a destination implies a direction, and a direction implies decisions. But every decision we make entails the limiting of options. To choose one road, we must reject another. As Thomas Aquinas observed, ‘Every choice is a renunciation.’ Which means that to move forward with a genuine sense of purpose and direction, we must make sacrifices.
~ Steve Chalke
We see (and hear) a lot of diet martyrs – people who are miserable with their food choices, and sharing that misery with the rest of us.
We prefer to take responsibility for our decisions. To be positive about what we are choosing to do, instead of negative about what we are choosing not to do.
Here’s the positive * I am eating nourishing, natural foods that keep me healthy.
Here’s the diet martyr * I can’t have that, it’s not on my plan.
Recognize that you are making the choice. Then own it, and enjoy it. For real.
What look would you like to go for this holiday season?
Look in magazines and pick out different styles that you would like to try. Pick a coat, hair style, lipstick, outfit – or all of the above. Who do you want to be this holiday season?
This month’s online class starts today – and it’s all about creating a visual that best represents YOU to the world.
Join professional costume designer and coach Beth Miriam for 9 days, do the homework (it’s not that hard), and you’ll look amazing at this year’s holiday events. Sign up for It’s a Wrap ~ The Time is WOW!
