It was dark, windy and rainy. There was a bonus though, the cloud cover meant that the temperature was mild. Still, did I really want to get up and do laps at the pool? My dog was behaving like a normal dog as opposed to displaying the maniacal behaviour an 8 month old border collie usually does, and was in for a snuggle.
I knew if I didn’t haul myself out of bed in the next 2 minutes and get dressed in my cozzie, and get out the door quick smart, it probably wouldn’t happen…and chasing that would be a whole cascade of emotions led by guilt and shame, followed by a day of behaviours that would inadequately feed my capacity to feel good, make good choices and think clearly.
I know you know exactly what I am talking about … The struggle is very real.
For me, the whole ‘win the morning, win the day’, as coined by Tim Ferris, works. Having a morning routine based on tending to my physical, emotional and mental wellbeing in some capacity helps me step into the day with more motivation, empowerment and drive to see to all of the other stuff that I need to do. The ebb or flow majority win is determined at the outset of my day by these rituals. It might be different for you.
This doesn’t mean I am like the Energizer bunny - quite the opposite. I like to gently ease my way into my day.
With Quiet. Yes with a capital Q.
Yoga, meditation, walking, swimming ticks the physical. A bit of intentional breathing ticks the mental & emotional health boxes, as does leaving the noise of the world - no tv, radio, newspaper and lights - off.
Our fuel for constructing our day is always the underlying connection to our why.
Why do we do anything?
The what isn’t as relevant as the why.
And why is this important?
Because it weaves a thread of conscious choice through everything we do.
It becomes our baseline.
Otherwise doubt and fear become the fuel for inertia and indecisiveness and a torrent of other less than life giving feelings and behaviours.
When we know WHY we do what we do, everything falls into place.
When we don't, we have to push things into place.
- simon sinek
To that end, please don’t think we need to be in a constant state of ‘self improvement’. That’s exhausting. We are simply beings who need to have mindful awareness about how we are showing up in our world so we negotiate the terrain of our lives with conscious engagement. Simply put, we get to participate in our life rather than let life happen to us. The knock - on effect from this is a connection to purposefulness. Go deeper and we get to meaning. When we free up unnecessary space, we get to enjoy our life.
why + engagement = purpose + meaning + fun
There is also a time to hurkle-durkle - the on-trend term for ‘lounging about’.
I love a good old hurkle-durkle - reading a book in bed with a cuppa on a rainy day is the best. I know why I am choosing that option - usually because I am so bloody tired from all the other stuff I do that I need a time out and if I don’t I will useless. But also, because I simply love reading. I love tea and I love my bed, the view from my bed and my lovely linens. An activity that requires not much effort at all and worthy of allocating my time to. It fills me up. Not everything has to be ‘productive’.
Most people want to be coached on finding balance in their life - there is never balance, only balancing. If we loosened the grip on achievement focused activities, we give ourselves a chance to just relax and enjoy our life. Sitting in our comfort zone is sometimes where we need to be. Stepping into the unknown opens up our world to the possibility of more than we could have allowed ourselves to imagine. Experiencing both is good for us, no matter how old we are.
I do what I do for very functional reasons. To move, eat, rest well and have robust mental health is to have a Moore Nourishing Life. Being conscious of why do anything helps us to maximise our enjoyment factor.
There is always a time and a place for everything.
We will always be straddling the line between being in our comfort zone and the adventure of life.
And that’s okay.
Thanks for being here
Until next time have a great week full of somethings…or nothing at all.
love
Mon x
Day Retreat:
May 19th, Coolah NSW. A beautiful day ( optional stay the night on the 18th available) at Jillie Arnott’s beautiful home in Coolah. Come and restore and be nourished. Walk, eat, stretch, connect. Small group. We would love to see you.