“Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends. “
The Beatles always seem to have a lyric to compliment just about anything you need/want to discuss. I thought this line from Sgt. Peppers was perfect to open a discussion about Empowerment Partners.
One of the most powerful aspects of the Abundant Healthy Living Program is the fact that you are not in it alone. A community of like – minded people makes working toward any goal easier. Empowerment Partners takes community to a whole new level.
When a community of people empowers you – it serves to shore up your own foundation. The power of many strengthens your quest to achieve and abundant healthy lifestyle. When you have partners it connotes a vested rather than a casual interest in your success. Empowerment Partners.
Your challenge may mirror mine and I draw strength from you. We may experience very similar successes and goals achieved. When we support each other and add our own success and challenges to the experience, what results in a richer learning environment and a stronger desire for personal and group success.
QUESTIONS FOR THE BLOG
- Think about a time where you attempted to accomplish a goal alone. Were you successful? How did it feel?
- Now think about something you attempted as part of supportive community or with a partner? How was that experience different?
ABUNDANT HEALTHY LIVING ACTION
- This week pay attention to the different aspects of your life. When do you feel most supported? Why? How can you replicate that across multiple areas of you life? How can you make having Empowerment Partners standard in your life?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Comparing Yourself to Others Does Not Serve
Interesting word – compare. I looked this up in the dictionary and here is the main definition: to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences.
Another interesting note I found stated: compare emphasizes the similarities between or among things, though not losing sight of the differences; contrast emphasizes the differences.
So what do we really mean when we say – Don’t compare yourself to others? We seem to have rewritten the definition of this word to be a synonym for contrast. I know for me, this sentence brings to mind that I would focus on the differences and especially on those I found lacking in myself, and thus bring my self image down. When we compare ourselves to others, and focus on the negative, we never win.
Yet, what are we usually comparing? What we usually do is compare our worst or our weaknesses to someone else’s best or their strengths. Does this make sense? Of course not! Unless all things are equal (i.e. family history, diet through the years, activity level, body shape, height, etc.), then we’re really not comparing like things, so it’s not a valid comparison. We’re really finding the contrasts – we’re focusing on how we are different, not how we are alike.
And even the act of identifying what’s different isn’t necessarily negative or destructive. Where we get in trouble is then making the CHOICE to label one thing as better than another. We decide that we are not as good. What’s great about that is that we can also decide to rewrite this particular story.
We can’t change our height, our general body shape, the size of our feet. So what good does it do to compare that to someone else and wish we had their height, body shape or foot size. If you got inside their head, they would more than likely have their own set of comparisons that cause them to be unhappy about themselves.
What a waste of our energy. Focus on what brings you joy. Find a way to rewrite your story about your imagined shortcomings. Yes – you are responsible for deciding they are shortcomings so pony up and decide what great about them! Free yourself to be your best YOU.
QUESTIONS FOR THE BLOG
- Who have you compared yourself to? Did it ever make you feel better? Or worse?
- How would you finish this sentence…’I wish I were more like…because they are…’. Now change the beginning of this sentence and say…’I admire this person because they are…’ If you take your ego out of the comparison, does that change make you feel any different?
ABUNDANT HEALTHY LIVING ACTION
- Here’s a challenge. Every morning, for at least a week, look in the mirror, look into your own eyes and say: I love you exactly as you are. Repeat it more than once. Notice how your body feels after you say this a few times.
Another interesting note I found stated: compare emphasizes the similarities between or among things, though not losing sight of the differences; contrast emphasizes the differences.
So what do we really mean when we say – Don’t compare yourself to others? We seem to have rewritten the definition of this word to be a synonym for contrast. I know for me, this sentence brings to mind that I would focus on the differences and especially on those I found lacking in myself, and thus bring my self image down. When we compare ourselves to others, and focus on the negative, we never win.
Yet, what are we usually comparing? What we usually do is compare our worst or our weaknesses to someone else’s best or their strengths. Does this make sense? Of course not! Unless all things are equal (i.e. family history, diet through the years, activity level, body shape, height, etc.), then we’re really not comparing like things, so it’s not a valid comparison. We’re really finding the contrasts – we’re focusing on how we are different, not how we are alike.
And even the act of identifying what’s different isn’t necessarily negative or destructive. Where we get in trouble is then making the CHOICE to label one thing as better than another. We decide that we are not as good. What’s great about that is that we can also decide to rewrite this particular story.
We can’t change our height, our general body shape, the size of our feet. So what good does it do to compare that to someone else and wish we had their height, body shape or foot size. If you got inside their head, they would more than likely have their own set of comparisons that cause them to be unhappy about themselves.
What a waste of our energy. Focus on what brings you joy. Find a way to rewrite your story about your imagined shortcomings. Yes – you are responsible for deciding they are shortcomings so pony up and decide what great about them! Free yourself to be your best YOU.
QUESTIONS FOR THE BLOG
- Who have you compared yourself to? Did it ever make you feel better? Or worse?
- How would you finish this sentence…’I wish I were more like…because they are…’. Now change the beginning of this sentence and say…’I admire this person because they are…’ If you take your ego out of the comparison, does that change make you feel any different?
ABUNDANT HEALTHY LIVING ACTION
- Here’s a challenge. Every morning, for at least a week, look in the mirror, look into your own eyes and say: I love you exactly as you are. Repeat it more than once. Notice how your body feels after you say this a few times.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Abundant Healthy Living Goals
The Abundant Healthy Living approach to GOAL SETTING is just like the rest of our program ... EMPOWERING!
A goal is not something to dread or fear. Think of it as a tool to help you reach your desired result. Your goal should be measurable and have a deadline. Think of it as a destination. With out a map and directions we would just wander around and perhaps never reach our destination. With directions and a route we can stay focused and make real progress.
If you miss your deadline, just reevaluate, note and celebrate your progress and set a new deadline. Never let a goal be a reason to 'beat yourself up' or it becomes self defeating.
So, think about your most important desire, the one that will give you the results you most want!
- Create the goal
- WRITE IT DOWN
- Share it with AHL empowerment partners
- Create a plan to reach the goal
- Break the plan down into baby steps
- Set your intention
- Take action
- Remember to celebrate your success
Have goals been helpful to you in the past?
Have you remembered to celebrate your success, regardless of how small the goal was?
Do you think that the AHL way of thinking about a goal will benefit you?
ABUNDANT HEALTHY LIVING ACTION
Create a short term goal ... perhaps July 31st
Create a long term goal ... perhaps year end
Share your goals on the Blog to empower yourself and others
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Me, Myself, and I
Me, Myself and I
Just imagine for a minute that you are on a plane getting ready to take off. The flight attendants are working their way through the required FAA safety announcements. They get to the part about what to do when the plane loses pressure and an oxygen mask descends from the ceiling. The flight attendants tell you – “If you are traveling with a child or someone who needs assistance – put your mask on first and then help your companion.” You need to put your mask on first because if you don’t then you’ll pass out and so will the person you are traveling with because you weren’t able to help them.
I don’t think this is much of a stretch as a comparison to when it comes to making healthy fit choices. BUT, because we don’t have life attendants giving us permission to take care of ourselves first, we often go to extremes and put ourselves last.
It is not selfish or self-centered to make a commitment to you and to put your health and well-being first on the list. Think about how much more efficient you are when you are well-rested, well-nourished, well-hydrated, and you have some exercise endorphins running around in your body. Your body and mind are like fine race cars, they need to be tuned up and ready to go.
Making a commitment to you requires a mind shift – remember so much of what we do is about mindset. Not only is recommitting one of our principles but so is committing. In order to recommit you have to have committed to something in the first place. Here is a radical idea – how about making the commitment to you.
I am your life attendant and I am giving you permission to take of yourself first.
Activities:
- Schedule your fitness time into your calendar. For example at 5:00pm everyday your calendar reminds you that it’s time to go for a walk/run/swim/stretch.
- Find time to sit with yourself for five or ten minutes to breathe deep and find your center. This could be on the subway, in the shower, or anywhere.
- Jot down the times you found yourself pushing aside your needs to fulfill someone else’s. Blog about it. Was it really necessary to put them first? Could they have waited while you walked for 20 minutes?
- Reward yourself when you make it through a whole day full of self care and love. A fresh tomato with pepper and salt from your garden, fresh flowers, an extra chapter in your “beach book.”
Have a wonderful week!
Love, Tee
Just imagine for a minute that you are on a plane getting ready to take off. The flight attendants are working their way through the required FAA safety announcements. They get to the part about what to do when the plane loses pressure and an oxygen mask descends from the ceiling. The flight attendants tell you – “If you are traveling with a child or someone who needs assistance – put your mask on first and then help your companion.” You need to put your mask on first because if you don’t then you’ll pass out and so will the person you are traveling with because you weren’t able to help them.
I don’t think this is much of a stretch as a comparison to when it comes to making healthy fit choices. BUT, because we don’t have life attendants giving us permission to take care of ourselves first, we often go to extremes and put ourselves last.
It is not selfish or self-centered to make a commitment to you and to put your health and well-being first on the list. Think about how much more efficient you are when you are well-rested, well-nourished, well-hydrated, and you have some exercise endorphins running around in your body. Your body and mind are like fine race cars, they need to be tuned up and ready to go.
Making a commitment to you requires a mind shift – remember so much of what we do is about mindset. Not only is recommitting one of our principles but so is committing. In order to recommit you have to have committed to something in the first place. Here is a radical idea – how about making the commitment to you.
I am your life attendant and I am giving you permission to take of yourself first.
Activities:
- Schedule your fitness time into your calendar. For example at 5:00pm everyday your calendar reminds you that it’s time to go for a walk/run/swim/stretch.
- Find time to sit with yourself for five or ten minutes to breathe deep and find your center. This could be on the subway, in the shower, or anywhere.
- Jot down the times you found yourself pushing aside your needs to fulfill someone else’s. Blog about it. Was it really necessary to put them first? Could they have waited while you walked for 20 minutes?
- Reward yourself when you make it through a whole day full of self care and love. A fresh tomato with pepper and salt from your garden, fresh flowers, an extra chapter in your “beach book.”
Have a wonderful week!
Love, Tee
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