What Happens Next?

"Everything you have or don't have is because of habits." ~ Sandra Chuma

Do you ever feel like the universe is taking the knuckle of its index finger and twisting it into your side? Or that you are the lone player left in a dodgeball game against some unknown force that is throwing fire balls of hell at you? It is inevitable that some of those balls are going to hit you and that life is going to challenge, test, and taunt you. Sometimes it feels like we take one step forward only to take two steps back. And often it is exhausting doing what our kids call the "adulting thing".

What I find more paramount is what happens next? For example what happens when we come home tired from a long day of work only to find out that our water pump broke and we don't have water. No showers, no toilet flushing, no dishwasher. In the world of studying habits this exact occurrence would be considered a "prompt" and this prompt is going to stimulate the brain to form a response. The subconscious response is going to be a habit. The conscious choice is that this habit could be a bad habit or it could be a good habit.

For example, the event I described above could result in a considerable amount of cursing followed by eating something sweet and crunchy, drinking a glass of wine, buying something online, or a sitting down for a good binge on Netflix. Let's face it, we all have a crutch that we pick up when we feel wounded or sad. While they might feel great in the moment these crutches do not result in anything good down the road. Especially if this is our go-to whenever we experience difficult events, feel overwhelmed, or feel sad. In fact, it can often result in a spiraling funnel downward of feeling worse.

But what if we recognize the prompt for what it is and we "anchor" the moment. I recently attended a webinar with Sandra Chuma. Sandra has created a methodology centered around creating habits. You can check out her podcast - "Ndini I Am" or her website, https://sandrachuma.com. She walks you through the steps to untangle the bad habits in your life and to build new ones.

If we "anchor" the moment and recognize it, observe it, and acknowledge it for what it is, we might then choose a different path and begin to build a new habit through conscious intervention. It is important to do this new habit immediately after the prompt and to make a point to reflect and celebrate immediately after doing it. Sandra states, "Lasting behavior and change can only happen when people acknowledge feeling notably good about themselves and better than they did before".

So let's say this happens next... You pull out your exercise mat that you left conveniently placed in your house. The easier it is to grab the more likely you are to do it. You sit or lie down and you breath. You remember the book "Breath" that we recently read in the SHW Book Club or you use the Pilates breath we have taught you in the studio. Take a minute to have gratitude for what is going right in your life and stay with that until you identify at least three things. Stretch, move, do a Pilates Hundred, use the tools that you have learned by attending your Pilates classes or private sessions. Try a 30 minute yoga session with Adriene on Youtube https://do.yogawithadriene.com/breath-30-day-yoga-journey. I highly recommend her "30 day breath series" from January.

Don't judge yourself. There is no right or wrong movement choice. Listen to your body and explore, make sure it feels good, do not force or push through pain. Creating some heat (effort) is a good target to reach. Movement will free up energy and mobilize your emotions, tensions, and concerns. When you are done, return to sitting or lying in stillness and the breath. Acknowledge how you feel and celebrate what you just did for yourself and your body.

Keep choosing you. We do not have to be victims. Things will happen to challenge us, hurt us, drain us. We can be powerful in our determination and resiliency. We have been given the right of choosing how we react and what habits we allow to exist in our lives. Build activities into your life that add positive pathways to your success and above all else expect nothing less than feeling your best.

And I'll ask you again...What happens next?

Sincerely,

Shellie