Today I went to Weight Watchers - again. (Haven't been in a while). Err. Yeah. But anyway, forced myself back today to weigh in and face the music. Not too much Thanksgiving damage done, but I'm still back at where I was earlier this Fall, since I haven't been exactly sticking to my Weight Watchers plan and have been doing the treadmill only on a half-assed, shall we say sporadic basis?
I find this leader, Cristina, very inspiring. She's the one I told you about before - the one who looks like Nicole Kidman and motivates like crazy. Today's topic was "A Gift to Myself - Awareness."
All week I've been considering my word for 2008 - for those who don't know what this is, go to my earlier post from last year which you'll find a discussion of this yearly word thing - link is here in my post last year from December 31st, 2006. I pick a word that governs my year.
Anyway, I've already picked my word for 2008, the word is "Awareness." What does awareness entail? I did some thinking about this and have come up with at least a few ideas.
Well, first, according to the Daily Om the meaning of awareness includes "Curative attentiveness." It says, "The awareness you cultivate within yourself will eventually enable you to create a foundation of positivity from which you can build a more authentic existence."
Awareness also involves being fully conscious in the present moment, being aware of your surroundings, your feelings, your thoughts, your judgements and your actions in the present moment. It involves pulling onself out of the day-to-day acting from automatic, robatic behavior, past destructive behavior and thought patterns and instead, becoming aware of one's perceptions, of making a conscious choice.
I can make healthier choices in my life. I can be more aware of my eating, my exercise, my thinking. I can use that worksheet I created several weeks ago to keep track of my ultimate goals. Several years ago at a Weight Watcher's meeting, a lady in the audience said something that has stuck with me for years. She said, "I need to remember that what I want at the moment isn't always what I really REALLY want in the long-term." Only awareness and action on that awareness will bring a person to their desired outcome.
6 comments:
Great Post. I am trying (with inconsistent results) to cultivate awareness. It does work. It doesn't bring instant magical results, but I do see gradual change, and that is good.
Yes, Catherine, you are right. Awareness is not an instant thing, it's the opposite. It strikes me as something much more subtle than my word for last year "Self Control." I think it's also more doable - and something I can aspire to by the very fact that it doesn't have to be all or nothing. It's a matter of choosing awareness and using it to strengthen my positive habits and become aware of areas that still need working on.
Very nice focus for 2008. That is a great concept for all the facets of life. And it even allows for some mistakes. Sometimes we eat Taco Bell instead of salad and then belittle ourselves. With awareness you could still have the Taco Bell or Starbucks but enjoy it without the guilt, comfortable with your decision.
Exactly! Exactly Elysbeth regarding the Taco Bell and Starbucks thing. Awareness seems so much more kind and less judgmental/severe. It seems something I might actually be able to incorporate into my life. And when I slip up, that's okay too, I'll just become aware of it. I don't have to be aware all the time - I can be aware of my own lack of awareness.
I was on Weight Watchers in the mid-70's (the food program is much better now).
I remember getting clear that the choices were adolescent/toddler versus adult. Immediate gratification versus long term goals.
My example to myself was: It's not about a) hot fudge sundae or b) NO hot fudge sundae. It's about a) hot fudge sundae now, good feelings now, feeling bad about choice later and excess baggage later, or b) no hot fudge sundae now but the understanding that I will look/feel better in the future.
Honestly, until we can believe in the future, we will choose for the now. I am sure that there are more methods for changing our beliefs in the future (meditation, hypnosis, affirmations, etc) than there are people, but only the ones that work for us are useful.
And if we grew up where promises were broken, and a promise of ice cream now meant that maybe we'd get it later and maybe not, we will grab the instant thing, not believing that later will ever happen.
This is my story, not yours. Right now with all my food allergies, my story is very different and I'm trying to find enough food to eat that I won't be sick or hungry... but I do remember and I do relate.
I say, believe in the future svelte you, any way you can, and then she can emerge.
Wow, Lynn, you are one of the wisest people I know. I'm going to be thinking about those insights of yours, and yes they really DO resonate completely with me.
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