OBSTACLE BUSTERS.

OBSTACLE BUSTERS.

Obstacles can keep us from getting to the more we seek or they can strengthen us on the way to reaching more. I'm starting to apply the keep your friends close and your enemies closer rule to all things that challenge me - because whatever we resist will persist. If something is giving me a hard time I feel like I need to get up close and personal with that thing - because the obstacle stands between me and more. And we can't have that. 

OBSTACLE # 1:

With this in mind - let's explore one major obstacle and then consider some ideas to bust through these obstacles.  One major obstacle I face when carrying out new habits and behaviors - like getting a walk in or eating the right food is: 

  • Time management - specifically my morning/evening routine

For me, I realized if I want to get something hard to do done - its best if I do it at the right time. This could be at the start of the day before my to do list starts running the show. Because by the time I am finished with all my to-do's I just want to to-don't - lol. In the evening is when I notice my mind on repeat with the "I don't feel like it" commands. 

I also realized even though I want to do everything early - if I don't treat my morning routine like a sacred re-entry into the world it ends up being like a scene from the circus. You'll see clothes flying everywhere, dishes hitting the floor, the smoke detector going off as I try to make breakfast and take a shower at the same time.

I don't know about you but I can't just pop up, take a shower, get dressed and slide out the door. I have to connect with my mind, set my intentions for the day and move in a rhythm and energy that will flow with me for the entire day.

So sometimes I have to set some things in motion in the evening to make for a smoother morning transition. 

OBSTACLE BUSTER # 1 Setting a hard stop in my evening routine. At 7:30 if I'm home I know it's time to wrap things up. At this time I start setting some things in motion. I fill up my tea pot for a fresh cup of tea in the morning, get a general idea of what I am going to eat and wear the next day, and ensuring everything I can put at the door for the next day is at the door and if I'm extra zealous I put some things in the car (so I'm not trying to get out the door with 10 things in my hands). 

OBSTACLE BUSTER # 2 Getting up a little earlier each day/week until I reach a time frame that let's me flow with ease - is the way I over come time management getting in the way of me taking a walk before work. Sometimes I just get on my walking pad - sometimes I am able to make it out the door and walk around the neighborhood. 

OBSTACLE # 2 - NUMBING OUT: 

Another thing that helps me is noticing when I am just looking for something to keep my self busy. Have you ever just sat in front of the t.v. scrolling never finding anything to watch? As soon as I notice I've been looking for something to watch for 10 to 15 minutes I get up off the couch, put my shoes on and go for a walk. Most likely something is going on inside and I need to know what it is before it starts controlling my food choices and other unhealthy actions. 

Numbing out is something I do a lot at the end of a long day to decompress and when something is bothering me mentally or emotionally. This usually consists of me letting the tv run in the background while I scroll social media for a dopamine fix. 

OBSTACLE BUSTER # 3 - PROCESSING:

By now you probably know walking is my go to method for processing my thoughts, feelings, ideas, and plans. It's also such a wholistic form of exercise. But not only that walking helps to regulate the nervous system - by calming us down and making us less respondent to triggers. 

REGULATING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: 

So many of our habits  - you could say are programmed into our nervous systems. The nervous system and our actions operate in like a call and response formation. Something in our environment signals a point within our nervous system (often a memory or something unpleasant) and we behave in alignment with whatever we normally do when that point within the nervous system is triggered to avoid the feelings that may come up or to complete a pattern cycle. 

The thing about triggers is that without being in the habit of processing our feelings, there is no awareness between the signal and the behavior that follows. By making walking a habit we get into the consistency of taking the time to create space between experiences - and that space helps us to better direct our behavior to be in alignment with the more we seek. 

Space raises consciousness - and when we are conscious we stand a greater chance against the obstacles because space and consciousness make us better observers of ourselves and our habits. 

Habits require momentum. Like a runner picking up speed as the race goes on. Our ability to over-ride the brains desire to stay stuck in a pattern with its subtle "I don't feel like it" commands increases the more we create space between our activities. Every time we walk you could say we are adding money to our OBSTACLE BUSTER BANK ACCOUNT. 

If the brain is constantly being fed dopamine fixes and being overly stimulated and numbing out -  it's on auto pilot and this helpful tool - the brain - starts to become the strongest muscle in your body and over powers your will and your desire to pause step back and consciously choose actions in alignment with the vision your have for your life. 

What's Next:

All of this sounds nice and sure a little repetitive - because we are "convincing the brain." But what happens when you get stuck - like mentally hit a wall and your brain rebels. We'll talk about that next. 

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