Hello everyone! I hope I found you all doing well. Life has been busy with the holidays approaching. My to do list grows by the minute and I see myself avoiding certain tasks. Do you do that too?! Why is it that some of these responsibilities get put off? There is such an accomplished feeling getting these tasks done and crossing them off my list, yet I avoid them and move them over to the next day’s list. It’s not that these are difficult items to do, but they are ones that take more mental effort than let’s say the laundry and dishes. Human behavior is so weird like that! I tuckered down and got all the tasks done utilizing Mel Robbins’ 5 second rule. If you have never heard of this concept I recommend you watch this video. Regardless, I recommend watching it, after finishing my post of course ;), because Mel is pretty amazing! The moment you feel hesitation, in anything in life, you count backwards from 5 and then do it. It’s so simple, yet so powerful. Honestly, this has helped me get out of bed some mornings at 4:30 to get my work-out done and of course tackle projects I have been putting off!
Writing this blog post is one of those tasks that I have put off for over a month. Seriously, that is ridiculous. What was holding me back? I had started a handful of posts on various topics and then left them to gather dust in a file. I was always questioning my writing and content. Is the post good enough? Do I really want that topic to be my first post? Am I getting into too much personal detail? Blah, blah, blah…excuse after excuse.
Honestly this whole blog thing is really scary.
For one, I am not a strong writer and I’m terrible at proper grammar. Throughout college 2.0 (this is when I went back to school as an adult) my husband was my proof reader for all my school papers and there was a lot of red ink when he was editing! While I would love for him to proof read all my blog posts I know that won’t happen. I mean, it’s the last thing he wants to be doing. You can’t blame the guy. So, it is what it is and my poor grammar is what you are going to get. Aside from my challenges in the grammar department, it is scary putting yourself out there for the world to see (okay for the 3 people maybe reading this!). Regardless, it is still terrifying.
I fear I am not qualified.
There are times when I think I could have a PhD in life and still feel this way. The perfectionist in me feels like I could always strive for more; as if I need to know the answer to every question. The unknown can also create an anxiety that can hold you back. Fear can cause us to retract when really, we should fight. As much as I try to get out of my comfort zone here and there, getting beyond that zone can be intimidating. It’s not our safe routine where the outcome is predictable. But, staying in that safe area won’t push us or allow us to grow. To overcome this fear, I need to remind myself: 1. I have 1st hand experiences adapting to a healthy lifestyle and understand the challenges that can present, 2. I extensively research everything making sure it’s backed by sound evidence (can we say OCD?) and 3. I am getting certified in holistic nutrition and consultation. I already have 2 bachelors degrees with one being in nursing and I already have consulted friends on healthier lifestyles. So, let me remind myself, I AM qualified.
I care too much about what people MIGHT think.
This is something I have gotten better at. While I still have self-doubt at times, I just remember to put God first and trudge forward. I know some people think I am a little crazy in my thinking, my take on the world, personal health and eating habits. Guess what? We all have our opinions and you can have your own. I am not jumping the band wagon because this is the popular thing to do. Let’s face it…It isn’t easy to eat gluten-free living in a small town in the Midwest, let alone trying to stick with an anti-inflammatory diet. I have been questioned by friends and family about my choices and reasoning for my decisions and honestly, I am done explaining myself and that’s ok. I am open and honest and will continue to do so. I chose this lifestyle because it is backed by research, my mind has more clarity and I feel healthier than ever.
We all have a choice.
We all have choices to make in life. We choose how to live, what to eat, what to believe in and how to react in circumstances among other things. I choose to be an advocate for healthy living and to speak out and be a voice for those who may feel unsure or like no one is listening. I choose to be a voice for a cause greater than myself, to help others, to give them hope and a community for support. I know what it is like to feel lost, have despair, to be overwhelmed and to not even know where to start. My hope is to help someone in need because helping just one person find the path the health and happiness will be worth everything.
So here is my random, rambling blog post full of errors and run on sentences. It may be vague and it may not make sense to a lot of you who may not know me, but it is what it is and it is done. Getting over this hump will allow me to write more freely and more focused in the future. I am all about baby steps to making lasting change. Anyone remember “What about Bob?”. I used to love that movie! Anywho, this is my baby step towards a rewarding future and helping others.
So here I am world (aka you 3 reading this), getting out of my comfort zone, doing something that terrifies me, taking it one step at a time, creating thought into action.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO!
