My Year Of Swimming Dangerously –Part 1

As an ongoing student of the OnePinky philosophy, I wanted to share a recent insight I had into the mind/body/soul connection and how it affects the goals we make for ourselves in our continuing journey to be the best we can be.  As we approach the beginning of another “New Year”, I hope my reflections will resonate with you and perhaps even help you have an easier time keeping those “resolutions”.  

In 2001, I weighed 200 pounds and was not making any time for real activity in my life.  So I decided I would go back to doing something I loved.  And what I loved was swimming.  Since I had grown up on a riverbank, swimming was something I began at an early age and took to it like, well, like a fish to water.  While I was never on a swim team, I became a fitness swimmer in 1980.  I would swim for several years, then not swim for several years, and then pick it up again.  Off and on spanning 2 decades. So in 2001 when I was itching to go back to the pool, it helped that swimming was a great activity for someone who was carrying some extra weight, as the water provides buoyancy for added comfort and ease.  And it’s also a great equalizer.  I would often swim faster and farther than other swimmers who looked like they had just stepped out of a catalog for swimwear.  I’ll never forget the day I was soaking in the hot tub after my swim and a personal trainer who was wearing a 2-piece and does not have a 6 pack, SHE HAS AN 8 PACK, walked over to me and said, “You are an awesome swimmer!”.  She was right. I am.  I knew in that moment I had rediscovered something that I did not want to stop doing as I had done in the past.  So I bought some journals and I started logging every swim I did.  What I noticed was each year I would swim a little farther than the year before.  So at the beginning of 2005, I set a goal for myself.  I would swim 365 miles that year.  After all, I had logged 330 miles in 2004, so how hard could it be?  Well, what I didn’t realize was, I didn’t have a preset goal in my head those other years and therefore I had no pressure on myself to reach a magic number.  And what ended up happening was my existence over the course of that year became all about reaching, as I called it, “My Mile Per Day Year”.  I had no idea of the effect this seemingly simple challenge was about to have on me.  Halfway through the year, I had already logged just over 200 miles so the goal seemed very attainable. But something was looming on the horizon that was about to twist my psyche into a knot.  I was planning my first trip to London in October, which would last 3 weeks.  3 weeks I thought, without a pool.  

Please stay tuned to Part 2 of this blog (coming next week) to find out if I make my goal and hear how I made it through England without a pool.                

Life is, for the most part, the way we see it.  So, when life’s not fair – it may be time to check your focus” -Robert Schuller

Every month I choose a word to focus on as an intention for that month and this month’s word is  “Acceptance”.

Accepting my health, my body, my mental and emotional state in the moment as they are.

Accepting that every feeling state can change and improve if I allow it  and cease resisting it.

August, Acceptance and…

Another “A” word, Allow.

An affirmation for every day this month could be, “I allow Peace and Love to energize my body, and heal whatever needs healing. I accept this process with Patience”.

When I was thinking about August,  I began playing with acronyms and here are something’s I came up.

• A Acknowledge, Acceptance, Awareness, Action, Allow
• U Uplift, Unconditional Love
• G Give, Gather, Gratitude
• U Undo, Unearth, Uncover (those things that no longer serve you)
• S Sustenance, Surprises, Sunshine, Seeking, Self love and Self Care (is necessary, not selfish)
• T Thankfulness for all that IS working in your life

What words would you like to add?
How might you apply some of these concepts to yourself care program this month?

Self care is a cornerstone of self love and self love will lead us to greater physical, spiritual and emotional health.

When one mind is changed the world is changed. -CIM

I am committed to changing my own mind by taking pinky steps when change feels challenging.

Change is a gift. And it is difficult for our minds to believe and yet resistance is a gift too.

Change and resistance offer us opportunities to go deeper into our process of who we are and what we are seeking in terms of having a body we feel great about.

I read this quote the other day, “I have learned to use the word impossible with great caution”. I love that as I believe in what is possible, rather than what is impossible.

What is your word for this month?

I welcome your sharing that here.

And one more thing from me.  I offer complimentary consultations about my one on one weight release mentoring and I am interviewing for my next 12 week  Body Image Mastery course. Please feel free to email me to set up a time to speak, laura@onepinky.com

A cheerful mind has always been a perfect guide to a healthy body.

-Sri Chimnoy

One of the worst outcomes of poor body image is that it often becomes systemic – taking all of one’s self esteem and day-to-day joy-of-life with it.

If only we could say, my big butt is not my best feature and love the rest of ourselves completely. My big butt is not who I am; for many of us, we will allow thoughts and feelings about a body part to run our lives.

Our negative thoughts about our body start to kill our inside spirit.

The popular idea, sold by millions of weight-loss experts and fads is that first we will lose weight and then, and only then, will we get to love ourselves. But it isn’t working, is it? That’s because it doesn’t work that way.

Here’s what ends up happening:

a) Self-loathing still drives you and so you continue to overeat.

b) You don’t “love the new skin you’re in,” and, even though you may have lost a few pounds, you

gain it back immediately.

c) You do lose weight, but you still don’t truly love yourself or believe you’re beautiful and magnificent. You thought losing weight would change all that, but you’re still left feeling that you’re “not enough.”

So, here’s the big What If.

What if you make weight loss an inside job?

Just try it on for size:

1) Remember, popularity is when other people like me. Happiness is when I LIKE ME. Say

this to yourself out loud right now, I will like me today! Because (i.e., I am wise, I

am smart, I am generous, etc.). . .  _________________, _______________, ________.

2) You are what you eat. So don’t eat crap.

3) Just for today! Stop hanging out with people who deplete your energy and your spirit. And then do it the next day and the next day.

4) Enjoy a day of fun physical activity – at whatever level you’re at — and eat great foods today

just because you can.

5) These Pinky steps over time will work. The key is consistency, support and a willingness to keep going when fear creeps in.

The truth is that beauty is an inside job!

B e

E verything

A wesome

U nique

T errifically

Y ou

Because you are the only YOU that you get!

Invest in yourself. Your only real job is to be happy and love the skin you are in. I invite you to be like this gorgeous kitten above, OPEN, HAPPY and WILLING TO RECEIVE.

While I am not in alignment with the use of the word “fight” – since any “fight” requires struggle, and my work encourages effortless and ease, I do think what First Lady Obama is up to is brilliant.

We need her on our side, and she has answered that call.

The movement that came from First Lady Obama’s platform is called letsmove.gov. As I always say, “a river flows,” so struggling is optional. Since our bodies require movement and flow, letsmove.gov flows and moves me to speak up louder and prouder about my cause (which is in strong alignment with the First Lady’s message).

Letsmove.gov was created to inspire families to make manageable changes that fit into their schedules, budgets and needs. One of the many things it does is supports parents with tools so they can lead kids away from processed foods back into real whole foods.

People ask me all the time why I do not work with children and teens, to which I reply, “I cannot be all things to all people. While I care about teens and childhood obesity, my work comes through their parents – who are often my clients”. I work with the children indirectly because I support the mothers to lead these children closer to good habits. Once a mother begins to make internal shifts and changes from the inside out, they naturally lead thier children into choosing and living differently as well.

Moms often share with me that they are concerned about how self-critical their children are of their bodies, without a real need to be. For example, the child might say at 10 years old that they want to diet, never feel good enough, skinnny enough, etc.. I also hear from Moms who are concerned about their child’s size, but who feel powerless over what to do about it.  They will say, “What do I say to not shame them?”

My first question back to them is always, “How do you speak about your body in front of your children?” That is usually when the truth is revealed. Often they have a big aha moment, like, “Oh I get it, my negative self-talk teaches them what to do.”

Yes it does.

Moms I urge you to be more aware of how you speak to yourself in front of your children. Your words matter – A LOT. Your actions matter also. If you are binging or overeating and telling your kids to eat better, they are getting confusing mixed messages.

1 out of 6 children in America are obese and experiencing physical ailments comparable to adults. I care about this deeply.

The time has come to wake up, get our heads out of the sand and show up first for ourselves – leading a healthier life and loving our bodies – and in turn, we will have a powerful impact on our children.

That is a promise, and promises do come true.

Some immediate actions to take now.

1. Begin to notice your self-talk, and as you notice it, allow the nasty voice to share, when it does, however, do not collude with it, just let it be. Your wise healthy adult can treat it like she would a mad child. You may want to thank that voice for sharing and counteract it with a loving thought like, “I am whole and perfect as I am right now, and I feel committed to changing my habits and behaviors, one (pinky) step at a time. Pinky’s are the smallest fingers, so the action steps must be small. However, consistence is key.

2. Please go to letsmove.gov which is filled with content on ways you can assist your children to get better nutrition NOW.

3. Set up a 15 minute complimentary appointment with me to discuss your resistance to doing any of this. I welcome hearing from you TODAY.  Remember, the time to change is always RIGHT NOW.  Laura@OnePinky.com

Remember a river flows. So all action is a great start.

And meeting Leslie Lewis Sword, avid student of OnePinky.com, was a total gift.

Tomorrow, I get to meet Gina who is doing her 102 day blog challenge here on the site.   I am thrilled to meet her and I really look forward to it.

I look forward to meeting all of you at some point and many of us will meet.

Please watch what Leslie and I have to share and enjoy!

Much Love, XO

Laura

P.S. A Loving Prayer that someone gave me years ago and the author is unknown. I adjusted a few things as the original prayer was too much about  hell and damnation, things I do not relate to nor teach.

Dear God,

Please help me to develop an interest in nutritionist and what my body needs to function beautifully for your glory. I choose to be wise in my eating habits and I choose your wisdom in the foods I put into my body.

I renounce my old habits of eating too much of one food to the exclusion of another. I renounce skipping meals and then binging at the next one. I renounce being ignorant about nutrition and how I eat. I renounce laziness and irresponsibility in food preparation. I renounce buying foods through lust and greed rather than in wisdom and understanding. I renounce stubbornness and rebellion against your divine plan for my nutrition and health. I renounce foods that are harmful for my body.

I love my body and take loving care of it and appreciate all the support that the universe has to offer me which is limitless.
I am conscious of what I eat, which is nutritious, healthy and loving for my body.

Amen

It makes my heart sing to have this soulful connection across the miles, actually across the equator!  I feel like she and her husband Leigh are family to me. We just know we will be meeting soon in person. And I think I can speak for both of us and say, we cannot wait for that day to come!

We will keep you posted on when that will take place.

I am so proud of your work Leah and your willingness to keep on keeping on no matter what presents itself.

You are an inspiration to this community and to the world.

And speaking of inspirations…

Gina who has kept her commitment to blogging daily, YOU GO GIRL!, recently wrote to tell me she is coming to California and will be stopping by my county. I am thrilled to say that she and I have a date to look forward to in April. More connecting with a Pinky. Love that.

I look forward to meeting many of you in time. It will happen.

And one more thing, before Leah and I got off the call, I read her something. This was a spiritual mind treatment I read to myself for many years. Actually, there were two, one called “Love” and the other called “Peace”.

I was happily surprised to find them in a drawer recently.

Leah loved hearing it and I loved reading it to her.

So here is the piece on “Peace” and stay tuned next week for the piece on “Love”.

Peace

The peace that sings throughout the cosmos wells up in me. I detect Its presence in my heart, my attitude and my body. I feel It, I believe It and I welcome It. With this Peace in me, nothing can move me from It. For wherever I go, there I find myself in the midst of Peace.

Peace to you Pinky’s!

I love you, XO

Laura

P.S. Please join us for a free teleclass this week with Steve Sisgold, on Wednesday, February 24th at 1pm PST.

Steve is an author, speaker and body-centered therapist who has taught thousands how to use their BQTM (innate body intelligence) to create better health, prosperity and more authentic relationships.

In his book, WHAT’S YOUR BODY TELLING YOU? (McGraw-Hill; July 2009) Steve teaches us how to breathe into our emotions, release stress from our bodies and maintain our physical and emotional health. This call will support you in having a body shift and I hope many if not all of you will be on the call.

This is a public call and please RSVP to info@onepinky.com and the call in information will be sent to you.

And those who have humility, ask for help, show vulnerability, lean into their daily practices and view change as a process rather than a means to an end. As I share with my students, a process, not a pill.

Jack Canfield, a great teacher and mentor of mine teaches many success principles and I felt compelled to share these 9 with you this week on success which can be applied to anything you are working on right now.

1. Nearly all extraordinary people have the ability to bond with others (i.e. being involved and part of this community of powerful Pinky women).  Without lasting bonds with people, any success or excellence is hollow.

2. Highly effective people have moral fiber. Others trust them. They have a sense of what is good – for others and themselves.

3. Winners surround themselves with good people and learn from them. Just look at the example left by a number of famous people. Many, from George Harrison to Hillary Clinton, crawled up the ladder of success on the back of someone else.

4. Successful people work on themselves and never quit! While the “over-night wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!

5. Successful people are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, “Why not?” They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, “I’ve got it!” They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!

6. Successful people are masters of communication. What they all have in common is an ability to communicate a vision that energizes other people and themselves. Communication requires listening. Those who listen to the people around them can understand them better. Shared understandings are what makes communication effective.

7. Determination is a powerful habit. Winners never give up.

8. Winners are not tapped in the past. They move on. They look for new opportunities, new successes. At the same time, they realize that always living in the future can slow us down as much as always looking behind. The unsuccessful are often too focused on what is ahead and never seem content. The successful understand that what is going on now is just as important as what they are planning for the future.

9. Successful people take criticism well as they see the value. Criticism shows that people believe in your ability to do better.

One of my dear students here at www.OnePinky.com is blogging weekly at http://www.NoDietingAllowed.com and her blog this week is on her new found “awareness” and how it feels to be in the world, awake to what shows up. Check it out at www.NoDietingAllowed.com.

I can tell you first hand that Leah and so many of the women in this community are living these principles Jack speaks of organically. They are showing up for themselves first and then for one another and it is truly transformational. Collectively, we are taking small Pinky Steps to becoming healthier human being.

The planet needs us.

Love to you All,

Laura

Hope your first week of this New Year was fantastic. I would love to hear how it is going for you so far.

And watch here how mine started. :):):). All good.

Happy 2010, I got Pooped On….

Blessings and Love, XO

Laura

P.S. Please join nutritionist and Ayurveda Healer Myra Lewin and I this Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at Noon PT for what we both know will be a life changing call. One small pinky step at a time, some small behavior can be impacted that can and will improve your health and well being.

Please sign up here.

http://onepinky.com/myralewin.html

I got Pooped On

Laura Flying to Big Island

Thanking you and appreciating you all alot.

XO, Laura

that people care…they really care

that I have it in me to follow through with anything I say I will do

and if my goals are not met, I will keep going until they are

that limitation is a state of mind

that there is hope in the darkest days

that this is not goodbye, it is see soon

that your body never lies

that opportunity is here in every moment and we can all tap into it (it may not show up for a bit and it is present)

that I can hold people, and I love holding the space for Leah and her progress as well as all other Pinky’s around the globe

that I have embraced this Fall

that I am taking care of my body and it is stronger and my weight is exactly where it is suppossed to be at this moment

that I am taking really good care of myself by exploring ways to serve and heal my body

that I love you Leah wholeheartedly and am looking forward to our face to face meeting. It will happen.

In the meantime, I will speak to you tomorrow on our call ( I am really looking forward to that!) and I look forward to this new chapter of a new beginning for us with weekly blogging.

Peace and Love, XO

Laura