React
Follow
I can't say enough about the power of positive thinking. It's what got me through breast cancer, and what gets me through the last few kilometres of a running race.
But it takes some effort to think positive at times. There are many people out there that are their own worst enemies. There are days where I am my own worst enemy too! I wake up, for the sake of not another descriptive, crabby. And starting your day that way could very easily lead you on a downward spiral to very negative thinking, and a very bad day.
And it's on these days that you'll hear me listing quite a lengthy array of excuses of why I have no time to run: My daughter needs a ride to a friend's place, or to work. I need to go to the bookstore with my youngest daughter, who loves books, to purchase yet another book for a book report. It's raining. It's snowing. It's way too cold. My legs are stiff, maybe I ran too hard, or did too many weights yesterday.
All the reading I do regarding running and cross training indicates that we have to listen to our bodies... and my body is tired today! I have too much laundry to do. My house is a mess. My box of summer clothes has been in my room for two weeks, and I still haven't had the time to do the switch with the winter clothes still taking up space in my drawers. I haven't done my groceries yet.
And the same thing can happen to cancer survivors. You can get tired of the many doctor appointments you have to book and take time off to go to. There are times when you just want a break. Time off from that too.
Yes... even the people with the most positive mind frames have bad days, me included. You see, it takes much more effort during those days to bring my mind back into a more joyful place. I have to talk my own self into getting off my butt and moving, or doing something constructive to pull myself up. Perhaps you are someone who lived through your childhood with negative influences around you. For those of you in this category, the hill may be much bigger.
But you can do it. It really is like taking baby steps, and making priorities. What is important to you? What will make you feel completely whole, and put a spring in your step? What will make you a better influence on the loved ones around you?
For some it is meditation, for others it's yoga, lacing up the running shoes, or simply booking that doctor appointment when you think of it. Others may need to find an agenda where they can prioritize the many tasks they have in the day. As long as you set in that ME time, everything else will fall into place. It may be three times as hard to do this on some days, but, trust me, if you can muster up the strength to do it; you will have so much energy, and will be back in a positive frame of mind.
There is always time to do what's right for you. I find there are some days that I have to wake up earlier, in order to fit everything into my day. But I find that, as long as I find even 15 minutes of ME time each day, the world's a better place. So when you find yourself listing the many reasons why you can do something, push those thoughts away. Give it a try. You won't regret it!
No comments:
Post a Comment