Popsicles and Purchases

The last (almost) 2 months have taught me valuable lessons. 

First: I am a terrible blogger!

This is something I hope to improve, mostly because of the fact that I chose to start this blog as a unique method to document my own experiences and hold myself accountable to my objectives.

So in an effort to redeem myself for my lack of documentation, I'll report on my experiences over the last two months.

 

 

September was Bikram Yoga month. 

 

In short, I LOVE BIKRAM! It is an intense 90 minute yoga practice where 2 rounds of 26 poses are completed in a room that isn't any different from a dry sauna set at 104 degrees. "Intense" is the best way I can think to describe it but that is what I enjoy so much. For 90 minutes you are encouraged not to think about anything but the present and focus on what you are trying to accomplish. The real challenge is to avoid focusing on the sweat dripping in your face.

I was nervous to start again. My first experience was a few years ago when I naively accompanied a few of my friends. My memories of it were very bittersweet and as I prepared myself to commit through the month of September, I heard those all too familiar voices in my head trying to talk me out of it before I even started. Despite my negative self-talk, I got myself to the studio and learned some valuable personal lessons through my yoga practice.

Lesson 1: Shut out those stupid voices!

• I "chinned up" and told myself that it would all be ok and if I ended up hating it, it would only be a month and then I'd never have to go back if I didn't want to. How many things do we miss out on because of fear?  Now I just need to learn to apply this to other things in life!

Lesson 2: Our emotions affect us in a very subtle, real way.

• As I continued to attend sessions I recognized that each practice was different. One day I would go and feel amazing; my body felt strong and flexible and I could focus on the poses, challenge myself and feel like I was improving. Then I would go the next day and feel like I got hit by a truck: the heat just seemed to be overwhelming and it would be an accomplishment just to stay in the room for the full 90 minutes, let alone hold the poses. What I noticed however was that most days when I really struggled were days that were emotionally challenging: days where I carried work stress, or was affected by life events whether they were my own or belonged to someone close to me. Emotions effect how we function.

 

Lesson 3: The 30 day challenge is not for me.

• While I came to love practicing Bikram, I learned in a challenging way that it is not something I can do every day. I tried but after about 2 1/2 weeks my lips became drier than I've ever experienced in my life and I just couldn't seem to find a cure. You know what a 4 year old looks like eating a Popsicle?  That was me. No, I wasn't dehydrated...other signs proved that to me...but as I started researching I learned that it was probably a vitamin B deficiency. I was sweating out all of my water soluble vitamins and wasn't replacing them. Once I started taking a supplement and paid a visit to a pharmacist for a recommendation to fix the visual effects, I recovered from Popsicle face and all was well.

Overall, Bikram proved to be a very rewarding practice.  I felt calmer after each practice (of course who wouldn't after melting yourself for 90+ minutes) but not only that, I felt so much stronger and in tune with my body. I noticed a visible difference, so much so that it became part of my motivation for going each day.  I would like to make this a part of my life...but maybe only go 2 or 3 times a week so as to avoid the re-visit of Popsicle face.

October is my month to focus on finances.

 

I had told myself that I wouldn't spend money other than on the necessities - rent, utilities, gas, groceries, etc. Well, this report will be short because it was a fail. I swear, the first day of October came and all of a sudden I had this terrible, ridiculous urge to spend money! Of course the adorable boots I saw at Macy's just had to be purchased right then. Then I had the sudden urge to plan trips for the next 3 months. I'll be going to Washington, D.C. this month, and then to Southern California in December and Northern California is January. See what I mean??

Lesson: Make a budget and stick to it.  Rather than deprive myself, plan for things so I don't have to stress about paying it off.

• Staying out of debt is a huge factor for financial happiness.  I feel responsible when I budget therefore, if I live within my means, I think I'll be happy.

 

The joy in these last 2 months has not come from being 100% successful at reaching my objectives but more recognizing the lessons learned even in moments of "failure” such as popsicle face, cute boots and plane tickets.

What are some ways that you overcome obstacles that stand in the way of your accomplishments? Ideas are always welcome because this is definitely a lesson in and of itself to be learned.

31 Days of...

Several months ago, on a whim, I purchased a book titled The Happiness Project..., by Gretchen Rubens.  With each page, I found myself intrigued and inspired by what she did.  Gretchen, a self-proclaimed generally happy person, decided to challenge herself for one year to discover if greater happiness was something that she could generate for herself.  Each month she set different resolutions, researched those resolutions and determined to live them. 

 

Perhaps you can relate to the over-zealous jotting down of goals at the beginning of the year: lose weight, try something new, pay off debt, blah blah blah.  Well you are not alone, my friend.  Most of us know that lasts about a month, maybe two if we're lucky.  Generally, these goals are forgetten and we continue living out our days just as we always have.  Well, NOT THIS YEAR!  As Gretchen shares in The Happiness Project, "you hit a goal, you keep a resolution," and that is what I intend to do.

Last week I turned 31 and I decided that this year is going to be a year of growth, self-discovery and self-improvement.  I know what you are thinking, "uh, you're 31...shouldn't you have already discovered yourself?"  To you I say,"Well sure," but we can always challenge ourselves to discover something within us that we never thought was there.  What I want to find out is how making a concentrated effort on fulfilling my personal resolutions over the next year can bring me greater happiness.

 

For my 31st year of life, I intend to concentrate on one resolution, 31 days at a time and to track my progress using this blog.  I've thought out the next 6 months.  They will be as follows:

• September:  Physical - 31 days of Bikram Yoga and Paleo eating
• October:     Financial - 31 days of no spending, apart from life necessities (rent, utilities, groceries, gas, etc.) 
• November:   Service - 31 days of  at least one random acts of kindness per day
• December:   Spiritual -  31 days of temple attendance and studing attributes of Jesus Christ
• January:      Mental -  31 days of homework and concentration on school (this month will mark the epic return to complete my Bachelor's degree; only 5 classes to go!)
• February:     Relationships - 31 days of focusing on how relationships are formed and how to strengthen them.  I plan to read a lot on this subject and put into practice what I learn as much as I can.

I will not be able to complete some of these resolutions every day during their 31 days because of one thing or another, but during those 31 days, each resolution will be my focus.

 

My personal challenge certainly won't be as researched and detailed as Gretchen's.  I mean, heck, she wrote an entire book about it.  I just intend to write a blog, that generates traffic or not, that will help me hold myself accountable and maybe inspire someone else to take on their own personal challenge of self discovery and growth.  I guess in the end the worst that could happen is that we all become generally happier.  :)

 

Here's to Happiness!

 

Have you found that by keeping your resolutions you are a happier person?  I'd love to hear your experiences!