Hello, dear readers! It’s time for January 2019’s Link Party with Sheryl at “A Chronic Voice!” Thank you, Sheryl, for hosting this each month! This month’s prompts are:
Dedicating
This year I dedicate myself to be more God-focused, and less me-focused. I want to live mindfully in the present, and stop rehashing my past mistakes and failures. These things are taking up way too much precious energy. I need to focus on today, and make it the best day it can be.
Establishing
I’m continuing my Bright Line Eating Plan, and I want it to become so ingrained in the way I eat, and think about food, that it’s established in my life strongly. I’ve lost 47 pounds so far, and am determined to keep it off permanently. Woo Hoo!
Breaking
No more “stinking thinking!” Too often my thoughts go down rabbit holes of dark thoughts, and I start worrying and feeling afraid. First, I have to notice I’m going down those depressing trails. Second, I have to combat these thoughts by reminding myself of what is true. Eventually, I hope to break the habit.
Strengthening
Since I want to stop “stinking thinking”, I need to focus on self-compassion, and true thoughts. I need to practice talking to myself the way I talk to my friends and family. I don’t “beat them up” in my language when they are feeling down, so I need to stop “beating myself up” as well.
Allowing
Pacing is really difficult for me. This prompt reminds me that I really need to relax, and allow my days to flow how they will. Instead of pushing myself to the point of a flare, I need to rest when my body says rest. I also need to stop the agitation that results when I allow myself to ruminate when my body needs to rest. No more guilt trips. Aiming for “relaxed effortlessness.”
Wrap Up
These were really challenging prompts for me. How would you answer them? What would you want to start doing or stop doing? I’d love to hear what you think! Also, please share this with whoever you think would enjoy it. If you’d like email notifications of new posts, and access to my two e-books, please enter your email address below. Till next time, Kathy
Everyone loves it when people come together and share views. Great blog, keep it up!
Thanks Eva for your comment!
Wow, Kathy, congratulations on your weight loss! That takes a lot of dedication and determination, and I so admire your ability to stick with your plan.
It’s so easy to fall into that “stinking thinking” when things aren’t going the way we want them to, and I love that you’re replacing it with self-compassion and remembering what is true.
It seems most of us have problems with pacing – maybe one day we’ll learn lol.
Wishing you all the best for this upcoming year. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you! Blessings!
Aww, thanks Terri for your kind words. I hope you have a great 2019 as well.
Hi, Sheryl! Our negative experiences have value, if we listen and learn from them. I’m usually too stubborn, though.
What a huge accomplishment losing so much weight all while having a chronic illness! Well done! Pacing myself is probably my biggest problem. I get it in my head that certain things need to be done and if I’m up to it, I do it. Of course, then I pay for it later. Ugh!
Thank you, Suzanne, for reading and commenting. I have a feeling that pacing is difficult for all of us.
Kathy, I found the prompts tough too – I think they are very applicable to chronic health this month, but I love the way that you have answered. Your positivity for your weight loss is fantastic and I know you can and will keep it off – your healthy eating will become a way of life I am sure! Stop “stinking thinking” – now that is good and one I might steal with my kids!! I have a sneaky feeling that a lot of us will have mentioned something similar to pacing for “allowing” as it is so tricky with chronic illness, particularly when you want to do so much more than your body will allow. Sharing this for you! Claire x
Thank you, Claire, for stopping by, reading, and leaving a comment! And for sharing! Thanks for your encouraging words.
Thanks for joining us again Kathy, always good to have you with us. Having read your entries for the last few months, I can tell that you’ve been working really hard on the Bright Line eating plan, so well done on that! A few words online don’t reveal much, but you’ve been amazingly consistent about it with the results to show! 🙂
Also yes, pacing is so difficult, I’m struggling with it myself as I’m trying to take on more work and get out of the house more as well. But I’d like to think that our negative experiences have some uses too, ha.
Have a great rest of the month and hope to see you in Feb! 🙂