More of the same

[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

My 30-day challenge has come and gone … the one where I committed to a month of Bikram Yoga without intermission, and also omitted alcohol, sweets, caffeine and anything non-Vegan from my diet.  As fabulous as I felt on my “final” day, I made the decision not to make a decision on how I’d spend day 31.  At one point, I thought I may be standing at the Keurig first thing.  Or be counting the minutes until I could mix my favorite aperitif.  But rather than craving old habits, I’m leaning toward the new.  So even though I don’t have to attend daily practice, I want to spend 90 minutes in my happy place.  A friend of mine said he simply gets sick of any given “preoccupation” — whether it’s a food or an activity.   But for me, what I focus on expands [see 9/18/2012 post].  Which means it’s time to get back to my writing.

Do you crave more of whatever you focus on, or prefer change instead?

Word-of-the-month: efficacy (n.)

[Image credit: Arvind Balaraman]

When my daughter was over the other day during what has become a rare visit, I mentioned to her a talk I had with the pharmacist about the efficacy of an expired inhaler.  She gave me an odd look and repeated the word efficacy, at which time I asked if she knew what it meant.  She responded yes, but she’d never heard anyone use the word before.  Pronounced ˈe-fi-kə-sē, this noun means power or capacity to produce a desired effect; effectiveness.  Synonyms for efficacy include efficiency, competence, value, strength, usefulness, potency, productiveness and success.  A sample sentence other than the one I used above includes: Patients were concerned about the safety and efficacy of the season’s new flu vaccine.  Incidentally, when speaking with the pharmacist I learned that in the case of an inhaler, it’s more about the bacteria that can grow inside it following the expiration date versus the medication’s efficacy.

What is one thing in your life that has proven its efficacy time and time again?

One day at a time

[Image credit: renjith krishnan]

Tomorrow is my final day of the 30-day Bikram Yoga challenge.  It’s also the end of my resolve to avoid sweets, alcohol, caffeine and anything non-vegan.  People have told me I’ll feel amazing afterward, and it’s true.  They’ve also asked if I’m going for 60 — and what I plan to do once the challenge is complete.  I’d like to keep going.  I’ve toned and trimmed some trouble spots.  I’ve improved my strength, balance and determination.  My IBS symptoms are better than ever.  My skin is cooperating.  And I learned I can do anything for 30 days.   However, I may swap out a day or two of Yoga for the gym a couple of times a week.  Maybe add a cup of coffee back into my diet.  For me, it’s become more about living one day at a time, while accepting where my body and mind is on any given day, rather than making more commitments.  So I’ll decide on Monday.

What have you done for only 30 days?

Trust yourself

[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
~ Sylvia Plath

In my opinion, self-doubt is counterproductive to any cause.  Whether you’re writing a book, training for a marathon, participating in a Bikram challenge or hinging your hopes on Someday, once you allow doubt (a close relative of fear) to creep in, your enthusiasm and/or motivation tends to dwindle.  Has anyone ever questioned your intentions and then suddenly the idea or goal you were so excited about seemed silly or unattainable?  Or maybe you wanted to prove your naysayers wrong and ramped up your efforts.  Regardless, insecurity is not our friend because it poisons potential.  Instead, we need to be overcomers in order to transform self-doubt into self-confidence.  We’re the only ones who know how badly we want something.  So we’re the only ones who can determine what it will take to push through the uncertainties and come out ahead.  Trust yourself.  It’s better to fail than never to try.

What is your worst enemy to succeeding in life?

Over the hump

[Image credit: Photokanok]

Eighteen days ago I started the 30-day Bikram challenge (see All or nothing revisited), which also included making a few self-prescribed diet changes.  A lot of commitment all at one time.  So much so that, in order to maintain my focus (and my sanity), I’ve temporarily stopped working out at the gym, writing my book, keeping up with my daily chores and making any big or life-altering decisions.  These allowances have permitted me to successfully practice self-control, while at the same time nurture myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  I can thank Yoga, along with the changes I’ve made, for growing me in these areas and teaching me that I’m stronger than I ever knew.  And now that I’m over the hump with less than two weeks to go, I’m beginning to think about life after the challenge.   It looks like this: I will succeed at whatever I set my mind to.

What kind of goal have you established for yourself that required making it over the hump?

I am slowly going crazy

[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

There’s an old Raffi tune my daughter and I sang when she was little: I am slowly going crazy, 1-2-3-4-5-6 switch, crazy going slowly am I 6-5-4-3-2-1 switch.  Sometimes I’ll still mutter the song to myself as I flit from one commitment to another.  I’ve said it before — that remaining busy helps keep my mind in the present.  It encourages me to not dwell on lack but focus on plenty.  But if you know me, I typically don’t do anything halfway.  Which means moderation is a challenge.  I’m working on that one by picking and choosing value-added activities, rather than simply filling my days with “stuff.”  This means pursuing interests and relationships that edify and add to, rather than tear down and take away from.  Saying yes to those things that fill the depleted areas in my life and no to the things that aren’t worth my time or energy.  That way, going a little crazy can be a fun thing.

Does your crazy need to be re-evaluated?