Becoming Who We Choose

SELF AFFIRMATION

We make lots of decisions about our lives. If we chose to tell ourself we are great, then we have a better chance of doing great things. Likewise, if we make negative statements about who we are and what we're capable of, we can end up making these beliefs a reality. 

Positive Affirmations 

We need to deflect negative information from others as much as possible and attach to the positive thoughts for defining who we are. The more we can focus on doing this, the better the chance will be of becoming that positive person. 

Our lives unfold over time like the building of a house. The foundations are our childhood. This is when the strength of the base for the mansion we construct will be determined. It is very important to get this right for supporting the rest of the house and keeping it from sinking later on. 

We can't choose our parents and we have no control over what information is put in early on in the build process of our lives. So we have to rely on the work put in to hold up our stately homes later on down the line. 

We all have issues - either superficial ones built up from our adult lives or deep rooted ones from our distant childhood. Likening this back to the house analogy again, these can be minor cracks in the cement or major subsidence under the house. Quite often this will show up as a crack in the wall or dangerous movement and partial collapse. 

Houses with subsidence can be underpinned. This is a major job. Just as dealing with our deep rooted issues will be. Even minor foundation defects can result in some long, hard work to repair if we leave them too long. 

The thing is first to recognise the work, because we can't keep living in this shabby or dangerous abode. The second thing to understand, is that the house can be fixed. It may not be possible to keep everything the same in all cases but in many instances, the hard graft could actually fix and make the foundations even stronger. 

We have the power within us to deal with these problems. They are not us. If we tell ourselves 'we are broken and sick and never going to be better', we affirm what we believe. But, if we can say - 'we are broken, we will fix and can be fixed', then we've acknowledged the issue, made attempts at the repair and know that time invested - albeit hard - will get results. We can use these positive affirmations to make ourselves great. 

Having a poor start in life can affect us in very negative ways. But we just need to detach ourselves from the baggage of life. Don't like the hand we've been dealt? Deal another one. One of the greatest music legends and an inspiration for me of somebody who refused to accept a poor fate - James Brown. He grew up in a brothel, disowned by his parents, yet turned out to be one of the greatest music stars of his time. 

Continue Onwards

PUSH THROUGH FOR BIGGER REWARDS

I've been feeling a little below par the last couple of days. I've been having some fun - so maybe the focus has dropped a little... Truth be told, the previous couple of weekends have been a little boozy, so I'm a tad run down, tired and struggling to find motivation. My resolve is at a low ebb when it needs to be strong. Now is a key time for me to step up working towards something new and great. The last 6 months have all been in the right direction for me to do this and there's still a lot more work to do if I'm going to get there. It's just that the goals, which are temporarily out of sight, don't feel within my grasp at this moment in time. But, I know in my heart, that they will be again once I turn the next corner and if I choose to stay on this right path.

Looking this morning at great feats others have achieved in their lives, I've stumbled across another apt post from James Clear - someone who's been writing a blog consistently for 2 years and who's become somewhat of an inspiration for me (and many others). Yet again, his writing has come at the perfect time to help nudge me on when I could so easily have downed tools this morning and allowed my goals to slip.

When Success Is Just Around The Next Corner
It's great having someone to nudge us on/motivate us - but we can do this ourselves too. We just need to remind ourselves of why continuing onwards will bring the solutions and this can easily be achieved by simply revisiting a time of where we've had our previous successes.

I've just been thinking back to the past moments when I've pushed through in times of doubt. And there's been quite a few instances jumping to mind where I've convinced myself and others to keep going that bit further. So many people in this situation don't make it. they don't push on nd don't have the success to fall back on and remind them. Just knowing I can be in that other small group that do push on - spurs me on every time to attempt success. It's funny how it always seems so hard to do at the time yet so insignificant looking back after the event has finished. And it's also worth remembering that it's always those extra pushes past the comfort zone that make for the best rewards.

Challenge Signifies A Reward
I've just realised that this moment in time is the greatest moment to be in! Already, my mood has lifted, because I know how it feels to go on when your mind or others tell you to stop or turn back. I've been here before. It's amazing how much sweeter the successes feels pushing on to the end when you falsely believe you can't go on any further. It's that last little bit between being an almost made it - to the person that's crossing the finish line, where the greatest benefits are found in everything we do. We all potentially have the strength to apply ourselves that extra bit, to make that last push towards the goal which is out of sight, but so close and just around the next corner.

Self Belief From Self Knowing

KNOWING WHO YOU ARE

Focussing on the self. At the centre of our being is an intangible force - something that drives, motivates, steers us and sets our intentions. This is our 'self'. It is the centre of who we are that needs to be kept in balance for happiness and harmony in our lives.

This 'self', found by practising meditation and discovered in quiet moments of self reflection is, over time, coated in 'ideas' - learned information, built up in layer upon layer. These chunks of information, nearer the core, are the first learned truths from being a child - fears and preservation truths - like knowing not to touch a hot saucepan. Layered over the top of these older layers and getting nearer the outer surface, are the more recently learned habits and traits. Things like being seen to do the right thing by a partner or friends, to fit into society. These are not our true 'selves' but they become entwined and set in a way - mixed up as part of the core at the heart of everything we believe in.

When we are following our true paths, it is our core identity that is strengthened and we feel satisfaction - a reaffirmation that we are fulfilling our true intentions. However, sometimes we get so layered in our 'ideas' and so mixed up with our identity, that we can't distinguish who we were once before this excessive layering occurred and what our true intentions really are. We become confused, 'lost' and doubts start to set in about what we are doing and the paths we are taking. This is where we need to get back to our truest selves and core intentions.

If we can take the time away from distractions, we get back to the true 'self'. This can only be attained through quiet inward-searching moments of solitude and via practiced meditation. We simply need to take this time alone, to best strip away the coating of hardened outer 'plaque' built up over time - and remove the set ideas & habits that block out who we truly are. This will, over time, help us to recognise what 'we are not' and enable freedom for us to live as the person we truly desire to be. 

Stick To Your Guns

THINK IT THROUGH

How many times have we listened to someone else only to learn the hard way that we were right all along? We should keep a tally. That way, we'd see statistically that 90% of the times, we should listen to our heart and use our own rational.

Today, I chose to ignore what my mind was telling me to do. Thing is, the proper way of doing the task was going to take a bit longer - I'd have to go back and start again. I got lazy and listened to another person's advice that I knew was flawed. Yet I did it anyway. The result, £££ to fix. That's a big 1-0 in my tally for knowing I should have paid heed to what I knew was the right thing to do!

Choosing Alternatives

IT'S ALL UP TO YOU

In just a few weeks, I've made some measurable changes that have had a really positive impact to my life path. Removing alcohol from the house, and not going to the pub have helped me to be more disciplined, get better sleep, have more energy, eat better food, use free time constructively and save money. Through adjusting my sleep pattern and resetting my body clock, there's now a couple of extra peak performance hours in my day. Taking certain foods out of my diet has meant I've burnt off some excess body fat and dropped 13lbs (5.8kg). Having a schedule of exercise has meant I'm moving, thinking, feeling and performing better all round. Having the extra time to make assessments on progress in the form of a blog, plus leaving space for creating every day means I am improving my mental capabilities as well as the physical. And all of these changes are happening because of me.

Taking the time to research ways on how to improve myself, I've been presented with lots of new information - digested, understood it and made decisions based on sound reasoning. I've taken action, made good decisions and chosen viable alternatives where necessary. Alternatives to things like: having a few pints of beer and staying out late, snoozing in a warm bed longer, lounging around eating junk and watching trash TV. There are a lot of alternatives that are seemingly easier to do but there are also alternatives that are just as easy, fun, tasty etc. but will show a different result at the end. Alternatives that, if followed consistently, will make us fitter, faster, stronger, brighter and better. 

Here's a reminder for some simple decisions and alternatives:

Eat In More

Buying groceries rather than ready meals - especially in bulk quantities, will save money. We know exactly what's going into every meal so always choose healthy, organic, un-processed and nutritious food over the alternatives.

Plan Ahead
Preparing meals in advance, will also help with discipline and save time. My partner and I now make this part of our quality together time early on a Sunday morning and we're always exited to try new food and look forward to making our meals every week. 

No Alcohol When Socialising

There's so many alternative beverages when you're at home but pubs, bars and restaurants have mostly sugary, carbonated and alcoholic drinks. If you have alcohol - try paleo drinks like Gin, Ciroc vodka (made with grapes), dry white wine or cider and avoid carbonated sugary mixers or juices if possible. I will have fresh press apple juice or an organic ginger beer/ale mixed with ice and water in a pint glass - and add a shot of whiskey or vodka if drinking alcohol. A glass of red wine has also got anti-oxidants and not going to harm you - but so has eating certain vegetables. I've had just as much fun meeting, catching up with friends without the alcohol and been far more controlled when it's come time to say goodbye, eat and get to bed early. 

Move Around More

Walking everywhere and doing it 1.5 - 2 times as fast, will speed your metabolism and burn calories/lower cholesterol. Take stairs up 2 at a time and never stand on an escalator. 

Eat Less Sweets And Junk Food

Swap the crisps for nuts, the sweets for fruit and if you want extra treats - restrict them to 1-2 times a week - ie. The weekend. There's great alternatives to mass-produced chocolates and sweets that are made with raw chocolate, sweetened with honey or maple syrup instead of processed sugar. They may cost a little bit more but you should only need a little bit if you've eaten well. I've removed all snacks from my day during the week and look forward to having with a film on a Saturday night - this is all I need. There's lots of alternatives to diary and if you want bread, try rye or spelt alternatives. Swap out oil and butter for coconut oil when cooking and avoid at all if possible.

Remember to think first: What's the alternative...?

Whatever you're doing, take a thought before acting and ask yourself - do I need this? Is it going to benefit me and are there better alternatives?

Check the Internet and you're bound to find out!