My body is an incredible and intricate machine.
I respect its pace.
I am not my thoughts, I am what I do.
It doesn’t matter how fast I go, forward is forward.
from Finding the Well in Wellness Cards, by Juli Conard, Art by Faith Myers
Ever get in your own way? Ever start your day with good intentions to accomplish something and then get so sidetracked that it gets shelved for another day? Ever have a hope, goal or dream that just never happens? Ever asked who is responsible for the outcome?
It’s easy to blame life or other people when we don’t get to the things that are important to us. But the truth is, 99% of the time, these things don’t happen simply because we have gotten in our own way.
I’ve learned this lesson in layers through my life. I remember driving home from Biloxi, Mississippi with a car load of teenagers who had just accompanied me to work with Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina. The 30 hours in the car together gave us lots of time to talk about life. We were talking about goals and dreams and things we really wanted to experience in life. When the question was turned around on me, I confessed that I had wanted to do third-world mission work since I was a little girl after watching a World Vision commercial on tv. A wise (teenage) voice in the back seat piped up and asked why I hadn’t done it yet? After listing my excuses, that same wise voice said “it sounds like YOU are the only reason that it hasn’t happened yet!” Sometimes truth hits you like a gut-punch. She was right, I was the only reason I hadn’t realized that dream yet. I was buried in excuses, fear and uncertainty. It’s like that truth bomb unlocked something in me and I committed right there to get out of my own way. Since then, I have led 4 third-world mission trips and a second youth mission to work with Habitat for Humanity. That one shift changed my life forever and has been at the forefront of my mind as I continue to heal from a third world disease.
It doesn’t matter what the thing is in our lives – it could be starting an exercise routine, travel, healing work, nutritional changes, dreams or goals – whatever it is, isn’t it worth asking ourselves what’s holding us back? There is always a way forward. We are resourceful and connected and when we want something strong enough we know how to make it happen no matter the cost. But what happens when it isn’t actually a thing that is in our way? What happens when it is our thoughts or perspective that’s in our way?
In those times, we need to remember that we are not our thoughts, we are our actions. Don’t want to exercise so instead you find yourself cleaning out cupboards and chatting on the phone all day essentially creating distractions and diversions to avoid the exercise? Stop. DO THE THING you are avoiding. No more excuses. You want change? You are the only one who can do it. No one can exercise for you. It’s your life…take control…do all the things to make your desires and goals and dreams your reality. GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY…NOW!
The same is true for healing. Hip replacement? Listen to your body, respect the healing process, and take responsibility to support the body as it heals itself. Be patient with the process but participate in the process too. Don’t put off to tomorrow…start today.
Remember, it doesn’t matter how fast we go, forward is forward.
XO Juli
#findingthewellinwellness
