Discipline #3 - Exercise...and Resistance

Here am I at the start of a new month - time to work on a new discipline. This month is all about getting moving. Ah the joys of exercise... I've got to say that I am NOT one of "those people" who genuinely love to exercise. (I don't understand you if you are one of them!) In fact, I'm probably the opposite. I talked to one of my hostesses this week and she couldn't make it to an event because "she is working out 6 nights a week to get a beach body for summer." That got my attention - that is some serious discipline.

What if I even gave exercise a fraction of that discipline?... I can find a bizillion excuses to not get it done. But it's gotta happen and I know that. So it's time to make it a priority.

My goal is to be working out 30 minutes a day for 3 days a week by I reach the end of this month. There, I've said it. It's out there. I had to build in some accountability so feel free to ask me how it's going. :) (Thanks for asking - I just finished my first session for this week.)

I've been resisting exercise so it seems ironic that one of the exercises I've taken up is using resistance bands. They have been very easy to use and I can use them anywhere. Do any of you have good workouts for resistance bands that you would like to share with me? I'd love to get them!

My friend who told me about the resistance bands shared something very interesting that she read about using them. Apparently if you use them in any given exercise until you simply can't do one more rep, the body sends a signal to your brain. It says something like "we failed to keep going - we don't want to fail again - make this muscle stronger." I think that is fascinating - even at the cellular level we humans don't want to fail. And ironically, every time I get lazy and don't exercise, I feel like I'm failing. What a crazy cycle!

Lord, give me the grace to resist laziness in my physical activity...

Can't think of a clever title today...

(How's that for a title?) What this month has helped me to see is what I want out of my daily/weekly schedule. My little time away that I mentioned in my last post was really good. I was able to set some clear goals for this year in lots of areas. It helped me to get a clear vision of how I want things to be structured. It also showed me how close I am to it AND how much further away I am than I want to be.

I found myself this morning praying for the faith to trust the Lord more. I know I'm over-committed in my schedule and it really all boils down to an issue of trust. It's way more about that than any time-management skills or techniques. I'm so thankful that the Lord is gracious with us as we struggle through our issues of faith. Oh for grace to trust Him more...

Discipline #2 - Scheduling (choosing the "best" over the "good")

It's a new month and time for a new discipline. Last month my focus was on being a continual learner which was a building block for this whole journey through discipline. This month is another building block. It is all about setting a schedule and sticking to it.

I have to confess that I don't live by a schedule. For some reason, a schedule feels like one of two things to me...

1. Set-up for Failure: What if I build a schedule for myself and don't do it perfectly? Gasp! I'm reminded what my boss teaches about failure. He says that we learn the important stuff through failure. We learn to walk by falling down. We learn to eat by missing our mouths. And last month's book, "The Relief of Imperfection" (which I haven't finished yet - ironic, huh?)was all about tackling this fear of failure thing.

2. Restriction: Somewhere along the way I've developed a feeling that following a schedule is very restrictive - almost like punishment. I don't know where that wacky thought comes from - all I know is that I butt up against it every time I think about setting a schedule. As I was thinking it through this morning, I was reminded of this scripture...

"All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]." (I Cor 10:23, Amplified)

Maybe I need to be reminding myself that I have FREEDOM to do whatever I want but that I might find MORE FREEDOM in making my time do what I want and not being a slave to doing whatever is most URGENT.

I'm tired of feeling like the tail is wagging the dog. Something's gotta give. So this month is all about working towards better time management. We've all got the same 24 hours and I CAN do everything that I choose is important (everything that passes my "personal priority test"). It's about choosing what is best over what is good. And that looks different for each of us.

I was in a group last week where the discussion was all about taking control of your time and the scripture we were discussing was Genesis 1:28...

"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”" (NIV)

From the very beginning, God has told us to "have dominion" - not just be mindless about our actions, decisions and time choices. The implication is to "TAKE" dominion - that it is a deliberate choice to set things in order.

My next step in this journey is to get some alone time on Thursday and do some journaling and calendar work. I'll let you know how it goes. I'd love to know your thoughts on how you keep a control on your time. What do you do that works for you?

By the way, this month's personal development book is one I just found yesterday - "How Did I Get So Busy?" by Valorie Burton. (I actually found it on the Bargain rack at Mardels for a buck!) It is a 28-day plan/journal/book about reclaiming your schedule and reconnecting with what matters most. I figure there are 28 days in this month so that will be perfect! One of today's challenges is to think through what my ideal day would look like. I'm gonna tackle that on Thursday - I'll keep you updated.

New in 30

So I've restarted with the Bible reading plan and boy is it intense! I was listening to the corresponding message (you can get it and the reading plan at http://www.newthru30.com/) on my IPOD last night on my way home from a jewelry party and it compared the program to a high-impact workout regimen. Seriously! I completely agree. It is definitely not a 5 minute quick read. It is all about discipline and is just the kick in the pants I've needed for this area that has really been neglected in my life.

Is anyone else following along? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hope's Beauty

I'm back from my "blog-cation" (at least that's what my friend Jenn called it!). It's been a super busy last 10 days or so. I had the very special opportunity to attend a LS rally in Michigan last weekend and I've been processing ever since. It was surprising that a jewelry rally had so little to do with jewelry and everything to do with personal development. I'm so blessed to be part of such an amazing group of women.

My rock-star Zone manager, Charity, provided some serious food-for-thought training and like I said, I've been processing. One of the things she shared was the anatomy of a diamond. I'm not gonna share the whole story here but one of the facets (get it, facets?! :) - ok I'll stop) of the teaching was about where a diamond gets its color. She was talking about the Hope Diamond as our example. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_Si/nmnh/hope.htm I've attached a link here for those of you who don't know what it looks like. Nice rock, huh?

Anyway, Charity was sharing that diamonds are classified by 4 things: color, clarity, cut and carat. I'm only talking about color today but do you know where they get their color? It comes from their imperfections. The fact that the Hope diamond is such a striking color is because of "perceived flaws".

That sure does speak to me. Maybe the very things that I consider to be my flaws are what God uses to give me color...beauty...influence...my unique mark on this world. So maybe the fact that I didn't even come close to staying on top of that Bible reading program I talked about on the last post is part of my color - something that others can see in themselves and know that they aren't alone in fighting the good fight for discipline.

So that being said, I'm starting over w/ the reading plan this week. And giving myself grace to fail the first time and try again. It's part of my color.

Speaking of our own color, have any of you read either of the books that I'm reading this month? I'd love to hear what you scored on your Strongest Life test. My lead role is Motivator and my supporting role is Caretaker. What are yours? Take the test here and then post your results - It's part of your own color!

http://www.tmbc.com/mb/books/fysl

In response to my own question

So in response to my own question this morning, I think I'm going to jump in on this reading plan (http://newthru30.com/)for the next 30 days. I've only got a couple of days to catch up on and I can use my travel time this week and some of the grace days to get that done. Sounds like a good way to work on this discipline. I really love the teaching from Pastor Steven (I follow his podcasts on Itunes) so I'm excited to follow along.

Anyone want to join me?

And about "my travel time this week" - I'll be heading to Lansing, MI with 2 of my fantastic team members to a lia sophia rally. I'd appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for lots of great new ideas that we can use to bless the women who party with us.

Frustrated

So I'm feeling a little frustrated this morning. I'm almost halfway through the month and I haven't started any of my daily devos. I'm not sure why it is such a challenge for me. I'm making good progress on my other reading (The Relief of Imperfection is AMAZING - I think it should be required reading for every woman!) but this one always trips me up.

I think the biggest hurdle is simply creating a set time for it - and honestly that is a big goal for this entire project. I've got to get my head (and heart) around building a daily schedule and working it out each day. (While knowing that I won't do it perfectly, but I'll still be making progress)

Does anyone else struggle with this? What have you done to make it work for you? I could really use some input.

On that note, here is a quote from The Relief of Imperfection...(pg 19)

"Perfectionism wears many faces, includes all personality styles and cuts across cultural lines. It doesn't always line up canned goods in alphabetical order on the kitchen shelf, wash a car in freezing weather, shine shoes when they don't need it, refuse to leave the house if one hair is out of place, or insist that a report be edited endlessly. Perfectionism is more subtle than that. It has to do with unreasonable expectations - how we belittle ourselves and others for having HUMAN (we translate that word as "weak") thoughts and emotions, inconsistent faith or less-than-excellent plans, accomplishments, families, bodies or dreams."

Small Victory

I'm trying to tackle little things here and there in my quest for the disciplined life and today was a small victory - I cleaned off the top of my desk in my home office. And now I'm celebrating at said desk with a little Starbucks Java Chip ice cream. I know...it doesn't sound like a big achievement (probably not deserving of ice cream) but it (REALLY) needed to be done...and I did it. I wish more things were that straight forward. See it, solve it. And I wish I had the discipline to just do what needs to be done in every area of my life.

Along these lines, I think it's time to pick up my book of the month for spiritual growth. Ironically, it's called "The Relief of Imperfection" by Joan C. Webb. The title really gripped me. Can imperfection be a relief? I think the concept really complements my other book of the month (Find your strongest life) and its suggestion that non-jugglers are happier than jugglers. So time to start reading - I hope someone out here reads along with me. I'd love to hear your thoughts along the way.

"

Tired of Juggling?

I've officially started re-reading my first book that I told you about - it really is very thought-provoking. Here is one of the core premises of the book...

"The conventional image of a successful woman today is that she's a virtuoso juggler, somehow moving fast enough to keep all the many aspects of her busy life in the air at the same time...A strong life is the opposite of juggling. Juggling requires you to keep everything at bay, up in the air, away from you. The secret to living a strong life lies in knowing how to draw a few things in toward you. It asks you to be discriminating, selective, intentional." (pg 8 of introduction)

There's that word that keeps popping up - intentional. So is it really possible that by juggling less I could be more fulfilled? And is it allowed? :) Cause let's face it ladies, we can be master jugglers and sometimes we think the world will fall apart if we stop juggling. Interesting to think that by focusing on LESS (intentionally, of course), I could actually become MORE of who I want to be.

Discipline #1 - Embracing Learning

In order to continue growing as a woman/wife/manager/friend, I've got to continue learning and it's got to be deliberate. It's one thing to WANT to grow - quite another to actually do something about it. So here is my discipline for this month - be deliberate about embracing learning by...

1. Read 1 book a month about business/personal development.
2. Read 1 book a month about spiritual development.
3. Be consistent with some type of regular devotional time.

I'd love it if anyone reading this blog would like to join me in reading any of the books that I take on this year. I think it would make the experience so much richer. (FYI...I usually buy most of my books used on Amazon.com - I rarely pay more than half price so it makes it much more affordable.)

My first book for business/personal development is "Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently" by Marcus Buckingham. I read this a few months ago and it had some really great insights. I want to pick it up again with more focus and do some application this time.

What discipline #1 will NOT be

In preparation for posting discipline #1 tomorrow, let me just say that it will NOT be diet or exercise. I repeat, NOT diet or exercise. Why not?

#1 - Starting a new diet/exercise plan in January? It's a little cliche, don't you think? :)
#2 - Honestly, I need to start with something that I already do a little bit but just need to improve. I've got to get a victory under my belt before I tackle the big ones.

So for those of you anxious to follow along with me in my trek through the discipline of getting physically fit, you're just gonna have to wait. We will get there - not this month and maybe not even next, but we will. I promise.

A Clean Slate

Before I post discipline #1, I think I need to remind myself of something about having a clean slate. Isn't that what everyone focuses on today - the first day of the new year? We all have a clean slate, a new year of possibility, a chance to make things different. But sometimes I think we can put a ton of pressure on ourselves. I think that's why most new year's resolutions get abandoned within the first few weeks of being made. "Oh well, I tried and that didn't stick - guess I'll try again next year - I've already blown it for this one." Sound familiar? But don't we get a clean slate EVERY day?

Lamentations 3:22-23 (New Living Translation)

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning."

So this is what I'm going to hold onto during this journey through discipline - EVERY day is full of new possibility because EVERY day is full of new mercy.


New Year's Day by Carolyn Arends

I buy a lot of diaries
Fill them full of good intentions
Each and every New Year's Eve
I make myself a list
All the things I'm gonna change
Until January 2nd
So this time I'm making one promise

CHORUS:
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day
This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day

I believe it's possible
I believe in new beginnings
'Cause I believe in Christmas Day
And Easter morning too
And I'm convinced it's doable
'Cause I believe in second chances
Just the way that I believe in you

This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year's Day
This could start a revolution
Every day is...

One more chance to start all over
One more chance to change and grow
One more chance to grab a hold of grace
And never let it go