Welcome and Happy New Year!!
2018 is here.
As the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations subside, the glass recycling is piled up at the back door, getting that one step closer to the boot of the car. The excitement of taking the decorations down and reclaiming your house brings the same kind of joy as putting them up in the first place and the sense of space and airiness that will return to your home is refreshing!
How are you feeling?? Christmas and New Years can be loaded with emotions and a time of reflection for most of us. What way have you come out the other side??
I have mixed feelings about 2017 and I had a lot to reflect on. One of the main revelations for me, is how something positive you achieve in your life can have negative ripple effects. The powerful realisation for me, was I had complete control over those ripple effects… that is my realisation in hindsight and of course hindsight is 20/20 vision!! During those moments, I know, I felt I had no control.
Hmmmm… things I am most proud of in 2017? I think my 2 major accomplishments were;
Opening the studio and keeping it open!!
Keeping a roof over our heads.
Having my own studio was such a major dream. I remember being in there one day when we were getting ready to open and one of my sons, Mícheál who was 8 at the time, just turned and said to me, “Mammy, your dreams have come true.” I was taken aback and thought to myself, oh my god, you’re right! (Total kodak moment, a tv movie will be made of that moment). However with that achievement came some negative ripple effects..
Uh ohhhh…. things I am not delighted with from 2017?
Not dealing with stress healthily
Way too much negative self-talk
An annoying consequence of achieving a goal is…. So, what now?
I had opened the doors, but now I had to keep them open! During my reflection of the year, it saddened me that the negative seemed to outweigh the positive. I had achieved my goal of opening my own studio but the wonderful experiences I had throughout the year with it and the fabulous people who came through the doors to support it, were overshadowed with how I dealt with the stress and responsibility of running a business, single parenting 4 children and trying to keep everyone fed and watered.
Fast forward 31st December 2017. I am proud of my achievements, but I am left with bitten nails (that hadn’t previously been bitten for about 15 years) and a weight gain of approximately 20lbs! While I was making people fit and fabulous, my luscious body was consistently gaining weight throughout the year. What was happening??!!
What’s the story going forward?
Am I going to make new year’s resolutions or just some casual promises to myself so that if I fail, I can have the attitude that I kind knew I would anyway…not hold myself accountable.
I can tell you, I am doing neither. I, my BodyShaper friend, am setting goals! Those who know me well, know when I put my mind to something there is no stopping me. This is one of those times.
Goal #1 To lose weight and regain fitness levels
Goal #2 Learn how to cope better with stress
I have made the decision, and these are two of my goals. The first one I already know how to do so that is sorted. I just needed to give myself a kick up the arse! My second goal, I might need to do some research and soul searching to learn how to better handle that one, but I’m determined to find working solutions.
We are so hard on ourselves and I think we hold ourselves to incredibly high standards as women, that we end up sabotaging ourselves in ways. I think if we are doing the best we can, in that moment, than what more can we ask of ourselves and when it comes to not handling something maybe as well as we should have, that we just learn from it and as Maya Angelou said, when we know better do better!
I am excited and motivated for 2018. I have lots of goals I am hoping to achieve and get closer to achieving. Which I will of course keep you all updated on!
What’s your story? Are you going to make New Years Resolutions or Casual Promises to yourself or are you going to set definite goals with measurable time frames? I would love to know! Fill me in on your plans or if you have any tips on stress management I would love to hear them. Remember you can always email me or find me on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and keep me accountable to my goals!!
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