Wellness Step #4: Redefining Success
Almost three weeks have passed since my first step into my current wellness program, but I am still at the beginning.
To be honest, I've had more failures than successes, if one counts the number of mornings that I've awakened at the time set by my (two) alarms. I've tried every trick my sleepy head could conjure to avoid getting up and out of bed: I've changed the time to 1/2 hour later; I've shut off the alarm while lying down, rationalizing that I need my sleep; I've justified my lack of follow-through by saying, "It's okay. I'm not perfect. I don't have to keep to such a rigid schedule."
I have learned in the past three weeks that most of us will fight with every ounce of physical and mental energy to maintain old habits and avoid change.
It's time to become more honest with myself. I hope to decide ahead of time whether I will adhere to my goal of awakening early the next morning or not; either way will be acceptable. If I choose the goal of awakening early to take time for myself, I will sit up in bed before shutting off the alarm and will not lay down again. If I choose to take the morning off, I will not set the alarm for an early time but rather the time necessary to meet my responsibilities to others. For some reason, the latter is not a problem.
Responsibility to others has always taken precedence for me. Growing up I was a late riser, as I mentioned in a previous blog, but once I had children or job requirements, I awoke as early as necessary. So how and why did I begin tackling this longstanding habit of mine?
The answer lies in the realization I reached some time ago that I am responsible for my own well-being. In order to reach the state of well-being, however, I needed to undertake wellness activities; namely, healthy eating, sleeping, exercise and rest. After much deliberation, along with years of denial, I finally began. Little by little, in fits and false starts, I approached life in a new way. Each day became an opportunity to do something new, something small.
I have learned to be more patient, to set the bar lower and allow myself more leeway. I still see the goal-post in front of me but I no longer dream of making a touchdown. I am content to make any progress that I can.
This process has indeed taken a long time; not one or two years, but more than a decade of slow, inconsistent yet incremental growth.
I'm a slow changer but that's okay. Every step has been an achievement and I no longer need to reach the end goal. Success is the ability to stay on the path.
To be honest, I've had more failures than successes, if one counts the number of mornings that I've awakened at the time set by my (two) alarms. I've tried every trick my sleepy head could conjure to avoid getting up and out of bed: I've changed the time to 1/2 hour later; I've shut off the alarm while lying down, rationalizing that I need my sleep; I've justified my lack of follow-through by saying, "It's okay. I'm not perfect. I don't have to keep to such a rigid schedule."
I have learned in the past three weeks that most of us will fight with every ounce of physical and mental energy to maintain old habits and avoid change.
It's time to become more honest with myself. I hope to decide ahead of time whether I will adhere to my goal of awakening early the next morning or not; either way will be acceptable. If I choose the goal of awakening early to take time for myself, I will sit up in bed before shutting off the alarm and will not lay down again. If I choose to take the morning off, I will not set the alarm for an early time but rather the time necessary to meet my responsibilities to others. For some reason, the latter is not a problem.
Responsibility to others has always taken precedence for me. Growing up I was a late riser, as I mentioned in a previous blog, but once I had children or job requirements, I awoke as early as necessary. So how and why did I begin tackling this longstanding habit of mine?
The answer lies in the realization I reached some time ago that I am responsible for my own well-being. In order to reach the state of well-being, however, I needed to undertake wellness activities; namely, healthy eating, sleeping, exercise and rest. After much deliberation, along with years of denial, I finally began. Little by little, in fits and false starts, I approached life in a new way. Each day became an opportunity to do something new, something small.
I have learned to be more patient, to set the bar lower and allow myself more leeway. I still see the goal-post in front of me but I no longer dream of making a touchdown. I am content to make any progress that I can.
This process has indeed taken a long time; not one or two years, but more than a decade of slow, inconsistent yet incremental growth.
I'm a slow changer but that's okay. Every step has been an achievement and I no longer need to reach the end goal. Success is the ability to stay on the path.
posted by Dr. Spiegel at
4:32 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home