Get Out of Your Own Way

My granddaughter recently celebrated her birthday outside with her daycare friends. And, with enviable non-stop energy, they played on the rented inflatable bounce house with water slide for hours.

As it is with little ones, the giggling was interspersed with periodic crying. One time it came from my granddaughter.

I was nearby so I asked her what happened.

She: “I was laying at the bottom of the slide and Ava slid into me.”

Me: “Why were you laying there at the bottom of the slide where everyone is coming down?”

She with a shrug of her shoulders said: “I don’t know.”

Me: “Well, when you go down the slide are you able to stop?”

She slowly shook her head and said: “No.”

Me: “So Ava can't either, right? Maybe you shouldn’t lay at the bottom.”

That must have made sense to her too, because she turned back towards the slide and her giggles were heard seconds later.

Yes, little kids are so silly. But what about you?

Have you ever laid in a path of inevitable pain and disappointment?

I know I have.

Like when I kept hurting my back doing simple things. Bad enough that I needed physical therapy and medications. The doctor kept telling me I needed to work on my core to prevent further injury.

I was convinced that I needed to join a Pilates class to work on my core, but then (on the same breath) saying that I couldn’t go to Pilates because my core was so out of shape that I would likely injure myself. (Seriously...but that wasn't the only excuse. I had dozens of reasons more including lack of time!)

But I kept telling that story to myself (and others) about how my abs were so weak that I would likely strain my back. And, over the decades of working out everything but my abs, the story got stronger and stronger. And, I’m guessing gathered more truth because my abs got even weaker.

Eventually, I got out of my own way…

But first, here are just a few other self-defeating examples that I’ve heard from clients:

• When you buy tantalizing foods (supposedly “for the kids”) when can’t control yourself around them (and if you’re honest with yourself, the kids don’t really like it)
• When you tell yourself (over and over again) that you’ll exercise after work…when you know darn well that by that time of the day you never feel like it – and likely never will
• Or when you watch shows or play video games until 2AM on your days off and then wonder why you have a hard time getting up early on workdays

Every one of those people came up with a way to combat their self-defeating attitude. And, it wasn't rocket science. It wasn't hard. 

And, no, I never did join Pilates. Or even start a 15-minute abs work out.

But eventually, just a few years ago, I got out of my way…and set a realistic goal to hold a plank (a push-up position) for just one-minute a day.

Just one minute.

I thought, “I can do that” and I have.

Now, I’m up to a full 90-seconds nearly every day. And, when the yoga teacher leads us through an abs routine, I can (mostly) keep up. And, I haven't pulled out my back - even while playing silly games with all the little grandkids 

So, let me ask you, “What can YOU do to get out of your own way? If you think about it, it's likely not that complicated to get started. 

Want to exercise more? Then take a few walking breaks around the office during the day. Those mini-breaks not only strengthen your heart and leg muscles, they can reduce stress and energize you, too. 

Want to have more fun? What did you use to do for fun? Can you get back to that - even if it's just for 10 minutes a day? Or one hour a week?

Need more sleep? Can you start a bedtime ritual (like turning off the screens and reading a book)? Can you get to be just 10 minutes earlier? And maybe stop hitting the snooze button three times? 

Chances are you already know what you need to do. Now get out of your own way and take one step in the right direction. I know you can.