I hope you are enjoying every moment of this amazing summer we are having so far. Yes, we indeed have had an abundance of rain and the benefit is everything is so very lush and green, almost tropical if you stretch your imagination a bit. The flowers are colourful and rich, even the bunnies seem to be out more frolicking in the green grass! Life is short. Everything you know can change in a breath. Embrace every moment, inhale every smell like it’s your last, hug a little tighter, linger a little longer over the people and things which make you smile, and your heart sing. You never know when it can all change.
I have received several emails the past few weeks from clients who have lost either their desire to work out at all or their motivation to continue because they are not seeing results “fast enough.” They are having big challenges with moving forward with many parts of life. Some are stagnant in relationships, others with business plans moving forward or desire to continue with fitness goals, that once were a very integral part of their lives. In speaking with my clients and reading their emails, one thing jumped out at me in all their stories. They are all very emotionally heavy, very fixated on a specific outcome, headstrong on how everything needs to unfold. Each of them has lost the simple joy in living. The ease of just being. So many of us, without any thought about it, go through each moment, literally sucking the fun out of life. Give it up already! Life is meant to be fun, life is meant to be experienced moment to moment, in each breathe with love, feeling at peace in your skin, and having fun!
Approaching a workout with the mindset of wanting to get a certain amount of reps in, with the wish to increase the weight you lift today by XX amount of pounds, with a goal of completing your run faster than the time before, is all good and well. However if you make the choice to feel like a failure and see yourself as a loser because you didn’t reach today’s goal, you are doing yourself a great disservice.
I am all for pushing past our comfort zones. After all, it is in the uncomfortable where the big changes happen, in fitness and in relationships. While you are pushing, have fun, lighten up. Now that you are aware of your recent choices, you can decide. Work out more if it supports your overall goals, or continue on the path you are on. You decide and are responsible for the route.
There is peace to be found in letting go, in observing more, judging less, and expecting nothing but the best in all situations and seeing the best of everyone you meet. You are the master of your life. Have fun with it.
Sandra O’Brien is mother to the world’s three most fabulous children. She is also a Law of Attraction Life Coach, Personal Trainer, yoga instructor, published author and Reiki healer. Her work has been featured on CityLine Television, and The Toronto Star. She is owner of Muskoka Hot Yoga, and Muskoka Goddess, offering hot yoga, tabata bootcamps, personal training and coaching. She created the Goddess Creation system, a female fitness program to blowtorch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside and out. She enjoys the ocean, fire walking, dancing, reading, hiking in the forest, meditation, men in linen shirts with integrity who can make me laugh, sunsets and a full moon.