Category: Motivation Monday

We’re starting off another week, inching ever closer to my vacation. I’m ready to put together decorations and games for my littlest child’s birthday party and bake a couple of birthday cakes. I’ve concocted an amazing cookie-bar-turned-cupcake idea that seems to be a unique creation — which will NOT be unveiled until I create it and share the recipe. What can I say? I want credit to come back to me when people fall in love with this amazing little treat! I’m ready for some fall cleaning and decluttering, too. The year is winding down quickly, bringing all the fall and winter holidays ever closer and making me contemplate plans and menus. The days are growing shorter, and the temperatures are cooling. I’m reminded that soon enough I will have a prompt series to host, so I’ll need to start writing prompts and drafting emails. It’s sneaking up on me, but I’m ready for it.

I haven’t felt motivated in a while. I’m still having trouble showing up, but I’m working on it. I want to start posting daily again. I want to schedule my posts so I don’t necessarily have to stop, think, and write everyday. I know some days are rougher for me than others, but I want to restart my writing practice. I want to share my words and pictures. I want to see my creativity escape from my brain, onto the screen, and into someone else’s mind. I have so much I would like to accomplish, but I want to start small with these daily posts.

It’s been a while since I checked in with my word for the year. I selected the word nurture for 2015.

How has it been supporting you? I stop and ask myself if something is serving to nurture me or my family before proceeding. If my body is aching for me to stay in bed (and I’m not required to be at work), I listen to it.

What could you do to bring more of your word into your life? I could stop and ask myself if something is serving to nurture more often. I could listen to my body more often.

Do you need extra supporting words? Sleep. Nutrition. Hydration. Relaxation. Rest.

What does your heart need? My heart needs to find the right path. I’ve been aching and yearning to follow my dreams, but I’m not sure what my dreams are anymore. Perhaps my heart needs room to dream.

I cannot express how difficult it’s been to avoid all my favorite sugary treats. A friend of mine always told me that white sugar was more addictive than heroin — while I can’t vouch for the latter, it’s pretty obvious to me that sugar really is an awful addiction. I have spent almost two weeks now fighting the cravings and desires to eat a piece of chocolate or enjoy a sugary coffee. It’s not even so much the caffeine I miss at this point as much as the sugar rush.

I’m motivating myself to keep going. Each day I abstain from sugar is a small victory. I don’t notice sugar crashes nearly as much as I used to. I’m motivated to keep trying.

A few birthdays back, I asked my husband for Hemingway books. I really can’t remember why it was I opted to read Hemingway’s works, but I knew his reputation as a great author. Of course, life has a way of pulling my attention away, and I got through two and a half books before going about two years between opening one up. Since I’ve been working on overhauling my diet and enjoying so much needed vacation time at home, I thought I’d pick up one of his books and jump back in. I don’t remember where I put A Farewell to Arms, so I decided to start fresh with For Whom the Bell Tolls. So far I’m slowly but surely turning the pages — I’ve never been one of those book worms who sits down to finish a book within hours, thanks to my short attention span. However, I’m motivating myself to read for fun, to explore new places and people. Usually, I fall down rabbit holes here on the internet, reading up on plenty of non-fiction from blog posts to medical articles. Those are usually less mindful than the act of picking up a book and following the author’s lead. This will be an exercise in mindfulness, a means to distract myself from the sugar demons, and a great way to relax.

This week I’m incredibly motivated to commit to my Lenten vow to follow a more cleaning eating sort of lifestyle. Think the Whole 30 and paleo movements, only will a little less… trendiness. It’s really more along the lines of eating the way people did a hundred or years ago when we didn’t have Snickers, Lay’s potato chips, and microwaveable meals at our beck and call. It’s also more along the lines of eating foods that aren’t going to cause some serious health problems. Also? Think of it as the human body doesn’t need chocolate cake and latte to survive on a daily basis, and I’ve got the willpower to abstain from such things for over 40 days and nights. And since I’m hardcore, I’m doing this 45 days and nights — I only subtract my daughter’s birthday from this equation here!

Here’s what the menu’s going to look like: chicken , turkey, fish (blech!), eggs, green veggies, fresh veggies, frozen veggies, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, water, broth (veggie, chicken, turkey), herbal teas, hot lemon water, sweet potatoes, white potatoes (which come from the ground, so there!), maybe some beef or pork here and there, possibly some rice. Ultimately, I’ve got a lot to work with. Here’s the tricky part — what it’s NOT going to look like: no chocolate, no coffee, no tea, no alcohol, no refined/ added sugar, no flours of any sort (not even gluten free), no processed foods, no dairy, and basically no fun. I’m unsure of my precious almond milk at this point — it may or may not get “technicality” status. I may or may not play around with different foods that have a reputation for causing inflammation or intolerances.

Over the course of Lent, I’m going to access how I feel. My goal is to replenish my body and increase my energy. The focus is mainly on what’s going in my mouth, but I do plan to incorporate more movement in my daily routines. I may find that I’m more motivated and energetic while eating healthier foods. And of course, we can’t leave out that this is a Catholic ritual, so therefore I’m also setting a goal to do penance here. Watch out, Wednesday! I’m ready for you!

It’s been about a month since I reviewed how my word nurture has been shaping my 2015. Let’s review…

How has it been supporting you? What could you do to bring more of your word into your life? Do you need extra supporting words? What does your heart need?

The word nurture has been supporting me as I consider what would nurture me before making decisions. So far I’ve had a few more slip-ups than I’d prefer, but I also realize that beginnings are always a little difficult. Babies learning how to move don’t start running right from the start — they have to sit up, roll over, scoot, crawl, stand, and take baby steps before they get that far. Instead of treating this as a failure, I’m treating it is a natural process. It will take practice to get all the right choices to come naturally.

I have found nourish to be a supporting word, as the two mean almost the same thing. Rest and relax help me remember that sometimes I just need to take the time to stop what I’m doing, listen to my body, and remember that I’ve been emptying my reserves for two years. I need to replenish myself. My heart needs me to take care of myself and my loved ones. It needs me to love and feel loved. It needs happiness and peace. It needs me to feel motivated.

With Cultivate 2015 behind me, I’ve got a blank canvas ahead of me. For the last two years I’ve been depleting my energy and motivation, and it’s time to get those precious things back. I’m ready to embark on a 91-day declutter challenge (let’s see how that works with my moving schedule), and I’m about two weeks away from starting a Lenten fast. In 2013, I didn’t do anything because I was already being tested and stretched. Last year, I made an attempt to reset my digestive tract, but I crumbled on day 1 due to the stress of my life at the time. This year I’m mentally prepared to quit processed foods for at least the duration, eat plants like it’s my job, and try to rebuild my strength and energy the old fashioned way — eating healthy. Caffeine has been a crutch for far too long, and I’m feeling the negative side effects after completely abusing coffee. So, I’m looking forward to treating my body with a lot more respect and hoping it will reward me in kind.

Stop by tomorrow to see what else I’ve been motivated to begin…

This is the first Monday of 2015, and so far I’ve been attempting to practice mindful nurturing. Breaking old habits will be challenging, especially since I’ve been terrible about drinking my water for several months now. In November I switched departments at work, and I find it even more difficult to maintain my water consumption. I’ve also faced issues with leftover junk food from holiday baking and making poor food choices while on breaks at work. I don’t like how I feel when I’ve eaten terribly, but I also feel too lazy to change that. Overall, I’m making mental notes of my problem areas so I can consciously change my habits.

We are also 5 days into my photo-a-day challenge, and so far I’ve made sure to snap pictures of myself and my children. Apparently I’m not only nurturing my inner photographer — I’m nurturing my children’s love of smiling for the camera! All 3 kids have been willing participants in the challenge. It’ll be interesting to see how each of us grows and changes over the year.

It’s almost 2015, and I’m settled in with my word for the year: Nurture. Before I get started on the year, I’m going to explore it a little more in depth with some questions posed by Susannah Conway.

What does your heart need? My heart needs nurturing and tenderness. My heart needs peace and comforting. My heart needs to feel healed and whole again. It’s getting there, but it’s still sore and scabbed.

If you lived and breathed your Word every day in 2015, what would be different for you? I think if I lived and breathed “nurture,” I might feel like myself again. I think I would take better care of myself and feel like I’m doing my very best to care for the ones I love. I think I would actually take the time to nurture my passions and hobbies instead of drifting through life daydreaming about “someday.”

List some ways you are already being/experiencing this Word. I’m already taking the time to nurture myself by reflecting on the past two years and visualizing my ideal life. I’ve been planning ways to nurture myself and promote better health so I can better care for my family. I’ve been planning the next round of Cultivate prompts, which will further encourage me to nurture. I’ve felt the nurturing others have provided to me and my family these past two years, too. I’ve found that my circle knows how nurture when I’m broken and raw.

What can you do this year to bring more of your Word into your world? I can pen in daily goals — 64+ounces of water, fruits and veggies, a good stretch, a hot cuppa while writing. I can get in the kitchen and cook up pots of soups during the cooler months to keep our bodies happy and healthy. I can live and breathe maternal instincts.

Choose four more words to support your Word this year. They could be anything from inspiring words to names of people to things you want to invest in… Happy, Peace, Love, and Cultivate. This came very easily after having sat down over that 5 day e-course.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Cultivate 2015 prompts. We’ll start on January 11th and run through 31st. Let’s cultivate a life worth loving together!