Are you ready to celebrate?  On Friday February 5th I started on a 100 day challenge with the goal of doing sit ups and push ups alternating days and going to bed between 10:00 and 10:30 6 out of 7 nights a week.  Today, Saturday May 15th, I have done more than 1000 sit ups, almost 1000 push ups and my body has shifted into a more natural rhythm of sleeping and waking.  In fact, I rarely need the alarm in the morning as I have been waking up before my alarm most days.  Have I done the challenge perfectly? Nope.  Have I had to recommit daily? Yes. There have been days that I forgot, days that I didnt’t make it to bed on time, days when I tried to rationalize that 10:38 was close enough to count it and there have been days that have gone according to plan. 

Now, I am celebrating.  I am celebrating that I started, I am celebrating that I restarted, I am celebrating that I did the best that I could and I am celebrating that I have learned more about myself and grown as a result.  Will you celebrate with me?

So many times when I suggest to my clients that they need to celebrate their progress, they protest. They tell me that they didn’t do it perfectly, or that they didn’t do everything that they wanted to do, or that they haven’t reached the final goal yet and so they can’t celebrate.  What eventually ends up happening is that nothing ever gets celebrated.  When we don’t acknowledge our efforts, when we simply move on to the next challenge or project our spirit gets tired.  When our spirit gets tired, we get tired and soon, if we’re not careful, we get stuck.  So please acknowledge yourself and what you have accomplished.  If you are reading this and weren’t a part of the 100 Day Challenge, find something that you have done recently and celebrate that.  Have some cake, go for a walk, hug a family member, throw a party…do something to tell your spirit that you are taking a short break and basking in your accomplishments.  It will do you and your heart a world of good.  I’d love to hear how you are celebrating…post your celebration comments here!  Now, I’m going for cake!

Joyfully,

Deb

The other day, the shift button on my computer keyboard was giving me trouble.  Instead of being able to easily press it to make my capital letters I had to apply heavy pressure get it to work.  I type quite quickly but this malfunction was slowing me down and starting to annoy me.  The thought crossed my mind that it was requiring a lot of effort and focus to use the shift button.  Instantly, I laughed!  It takes a lot of effort and focus to shift!  How’s that for reminder?!

Let’s face it.  It’s not always easy to make changes in your life.  Shifting a belief or a habit requires effort and focus AND perseverance.  That’s why I like the 100 Day Challenge.  You pick some activity or habit to focus on, you put in effort everyday and you do this for 100 days in a row.  As the Challenge draws to a close on Saturday of this week, it will be time to evaluate if anything has shifted.  Did you put in the effort and the focus required to make the shift? 

Joyfully,

Deb

P.S.  My shift button started working again the next day, with no help from me.  Hhmm…the ways of the Universe are mysterious indeed!!

P.P.S.  Stats update:  to date I have done 1297 sit-ups, 923 push-ups and gone to bed at the appointed time 63 out of 82 nights!