Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?
I would rate my physical well being as a 5. I chose a 5 only because I just had a baby and I am definitely not in the shape I was in before I conceived. Prior to being pregnant I was very active. I rode my bicycle to run errands, up to 12 miles one way a day, 4 days a week. I ran 3.5 miles a day, and I did the Insanity workout. Why I thought I was in poor shape then, I don't know. I am just getting back to running and am happy to say that I ran my 3.5 mile route twice this week! Another reason I chose 5 is because I went clothes shopping this week. Nothing brings on post partum depression quite like pant shopping in sizes double what you used to be....lol!
I rate my spiritual well-being as a 6. I consider myself a very spiritual person and yet, I fall so short. This is something I am working on and learning more about every day. Before starting this class I was taking two other classes. I was extremely overwhelmed and falling into a dark depression. I have never stopped taking classes before and have taken up to 3 at one time, but something just wasn't right. It's funny the way life works out sometimes. Since starting this class and getting back in touch with mind/body awareness, I have felt better, and have been making daily strides in balancing my spiritual, physical, and psychological self.
I rate my psychological well being at a 6 also. We are new to our area and I am a new stay at home mom. I am used to being around adults and socializing on a daily basis. I love and adore my husband and kids but I find myself a bit lost at home, without the social interaction that I had before. Earlier this week I joined a mommy group and did my first mommy group workout. I've never done that before and I have to say it was a blast! I left there feeling so pumped up but also realized just how much having a social life is important to my well-being.
Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).
What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?
My goal physically is to lose weight. Sounds simple, but it has been a challenge for me since I hit my 30's. Physically, I want to be able to increase my speed and gain my strength back. Also, my goal is to be able to beat my husband in a race. I used to be faster than him in a sprint and I know that when I am able to leave him in the dust, I will have gotten my groove back. :)
My spiritual goal is a bit more complicated. I know that realistically I will never be at a 10, however, my goal will always to strive for a 10. My goal spiritually will be the journey of trying to reach that level. To experience all I can, to grow closer to God through those experiences (bad and good), and to have absolute faith in every aspect of my life. When people meet me, I want them to instantly recognize that I am a follower and a believer. Without being self righteous or pushing people away of course. To love without limits and to show love to everyone I meet.
My psychological goal will be to take physical steps in getting past this funk I've been in. Call it depression if you will. I want to force myself to meet more people here and become more social without impeding on time with my family. I took steps towards that this week and am excited to keep it going.
Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)
My first thought during the exercise was "this does not have anything to do with the crime of the century". I still don't see the connection....lol! This time around I did not fall asleep. But I did have to focus very hard to...well, focus. I had to restart it a couple times in order to really hear what he was telling me to do. My daughter got hungry so I ended up feeding her during the exercise. She became very calm as well and just sat there with her eyes wide open listening to the speaker. Once I was able to relax I was able to really feel the light. At one point during the indigo blue part, I touched the spot between my eyes and felt that spot tingle the whole time he was talking. I also swear I saw a little butterfly, clear as day while my eyes were closed. It lasted only about 10 seconds or so, but it was really cool. I know, sounds kind of cuckoo but it happened! I plan on sitting my kiddos down to listen to this with me and do this exercise. The part of being loved and most importantly showing love was very moving to me. This is something I have been talking to my boys about since they were little. They fight a lot, and yet, are able to be gracious and loving outside of our home. I know that sibling rivalry is normal, but if they can master showing love to each other during not-so-loving times, than when it is time for them to leave our home and be out in the world on their own, they will be able to approach all situations, including the negative ones, with love.
Hi Jo,
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of hitting your 30s and feeling of getting into shape and staying there being hard. I have been noticing that I have to work twice as hard with my workouts whenever I eat junk food in order to keep it off. Perseverance is the key. Kudos to you for challenging yourself!
As far as your funk goes, think happy thoughts! I know, easier said than done, but sometimes just smiling can give you a "happiness shot", as I like to call it.
It sounds like you have a ways to go with your goals, but you've made the first big step, which is to state your goals. Now you just have to take it one day at a time until you meet them all.
Donna
Thank you Donna! I love the idea of a happiness shot. I'm going to use that! :)
DeleteJo
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog. I know too know how you feel, I find it difficult to loose weight since I past 40. You seem to be on a new journey in your life and your even stepping out there to explore it and expand on it. You should be very proud of yourself. No thinking you are depressed. Think about how much you have accomplished and all the great goals you have set for yourself. I also think it is great that you want to share these exercises with your children. I would be curious to know how it varies in outcome between you and young children? Do they get the same relaxation response or energy and so on?
Mary
Thank you for the encouragement Mary! I have begun a new journey and I have accomplished so much. I think it's just the changes and knowing that I'm the only one that these changes are happening too. My husband and children have continued on in their lives without any disruption and yet I feel like I am in slow motion, watching everyone around me. I have taken the steps to getting out of this funk and I am noticing an improvement. I had my kids do the exercise the other day and they weren't so thrilled by it. So I had them do the journey one and they responded much better to that one. In fact, they tried to tell me they were too relaxed to do their chores...lol! Smart guys. :) They still had to do their chores though.
DeleteJo
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to say you have a beautiful family! I enjoyed reading your blog and found it to be inspiring. I think as long as peole make goals that are reachable they will have success. No one is perfect, so we all need improvement. How fast it happens depends on the inividual and how they make things happen for themselves. I loved doing the exercise and find that it was vwry beneficial for me. I think I would definitely do it again. I was so relax after I did it and relieved so much tension from shoulders. Stay focussed and you will reach your goals.
Kym
Thank you for the lovely compliment! I'm glad my blog was inspiring to you. I am not in a hurry to reach my goals. Mostly because I learn so much from the journey I take to reach my goals. And although I would love to drop weight instantly, I know that my weight loss will last if taken slowly. Also, I am nursing my little one so if I lose weight too soon, I can jeopardize her milk supply. As for my spiritual goals, I plan on taking the rest of my life to always strive to be better in that way. I think when we stop trying to reach our goals spiritually, we die. That journey should never stop! :)Thank you for the encouragement Kimberly. I really appreciate it!
DeleteJo
Wow you touched on lots of things I too can relate to, I struggle with my weight after having three big boys. I want to lose 60 pounds at least and feel rather down about my current weight but I know once I get back to the gym I will feel a lot better because I'll be doing something about it. I am also like you and strive to be a 10 in everything, which I saw recently in my oldest son and really felt sorry for him, he is such an over achiever, blame myself for that. I know I can never be perfect but I always give 110% in everything I do regardless of how unrealistic it is. I especially like what you say about people knowing you are a believer simply by just meeting you, the ability to love others unconditionally is something not many are able to do, but I also know that we cannot do this on our own strength but only through God. I want to be able to show that love without coming off self-righteous, which I hate religious people anyway, and since Jesus did too I don't feel bad saying that lol. I absolutely thought the same thing you did several times during the exercise, why is this the "crime of the century"?? I don't know but it was very interesting and relaxing. I think I liked the Journey On one better though for some reason.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and your goals, you can do it!
Hi Jada! My boys were big boys too. My daughter was born at 7.1 lbs but she's now in the 79th %ile. :) I love my big babies! I honestly despise going to the gym. I find that when I'm there I compare myself to others and in any situation, that's not good. I love to run in my neighborhood with my phone and like you, I have to have my music...there have been times when my phone is dead that I will find an excuse not to go. But getting outside (when the weather is good) and exercising gives me alone time with myself to reflect on all sorts of things. I draw energy from these moments and I find myself in a good mood the rest of the day. It's a great feeling! I don't like religion either but I respect other people's rights to them. Showing love and acceptance of others was always taught by Jesus and He calls us to do the same. It sure can be hard at times though. I seriously think that some people are put in my path just to test how far my love and acceptance of some people will go...lol! I liked the crime of the century but I have to agree that I enjoyed the journey one better. :)Thank you for your encouragement Jada! Maybe we can help keep each other accountable in our goals. :)
DeleteJo
Jo,
DeleteI can tell that you will get there with your goals, you seem extremely determined and it will only be a matter of time before your husband is getting nothing but the dust from you sprinting ahead of him haha! I love that! I have never been a runner, my legs seem to in fact hate running, however I do enjoy exercising, especially with free weights. I will soon know what you mean about hitting 30, as I will be 29 this September, but I am going into that phase of my life with a positive outlook lol! From what I have gathered so far in my life, I get smarter and I feel more and more beautiful inside and out, everyday so I am convincing myself that getting older just works for me (hopefully I can keep that up lol). I love that you put yourself out there and did the mommy group. When you said it made you feel pumped I could envision and feel the way it probably made you feel. You should definitely keep doing things like that and not let yourself get used to not socializing especially since you liked that part of your life. Don't let being a great stay at home mom and wife make you lose who you were before, because you need that still and I know you will find that happy medium :o) I struggle with the non-social life as well, but I work full time so don't feel bad. I just don't leave myself much time to do any socializing because I don't want to get behind on work, homework and my family, you know what I mean I am sure. It's something I struggle with daily; it's to bad you don't live where I do, I would love to have a friend to exercise with and chit chat! Great job this week in evaluating yourself in each stage, you have great goals to work towards!
Mrs. Rogers -
aka - Caitlin :o)
I really enjoyed reading your post and can relate to it. I have four kids and I find that I am always physically comparing myself to others, which is the worse thing we can do. I did rate myself a 8 on physical because I work out a lot, eat good, and I am training for a half marathon. I can always do better with my eating it seems the closer I get to 40 the more I have to really watch my diet. For your physical goal do you have an amount of weight you want to lose? Do you have a plan set up like tracking food or exercise? I know that when I set my mind to lose weight after having my third I tracked my calories and exercised and was able to lose the 25 pounds I gained during my pregnancy and 25 more. You sound like once you set your mind to something you do it, so I am sure you will meet your goal very soon.
ReplyDeleteI am the same when it comes to spiritual well-being. My goal is to spend more time in prayer and reading my bible. When I take the time to do this things really fall into place and I just have more peace and patience towards everything.
I am a stay at home mom too and I find that since I do not get a pay check or an evaluation I can get frustrated sometimes thinking I can never do enough or need to be doing more. It is so important to surround yourself with other moms because they can help encourage you and give you some positive feedback.
You will be out running your husband again in no time! LOL! I think it is so great that you have given your goals so much thought and intention. I also think that a new baby and relocation is a lot to deal with but from the interactions we've had is class you seem to still have such great wit and humor. I love you spiritual goal as well. I think it is so great that you are striving to be in such a wonderful place. I understand being a mom of two that being at home can be a huge transition, but the fact that you are sharing with your family what you are learning is so inspiring. And please do keep in mind that post partum does not last forever, so cut yourself some slack because you are rocking it from what I see.
ReplyDelete