We finished our chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chickens. Most people are starting to think about bathing suit weather, days on the lake, and fitting into our summer wardrobe. Summer is coming faster than you think. By now into 2014, most people will have started and stopped going to the gym, done some sort of cleanse or diet and reverted back to McDonald’s drive through and beer, and let their vow to practice yoga and meditation give way to deadlines and annoying coworker behavior.
Recently we had a lunar eclipse on April 15th and it is said in astrology that the time between a full moon, especially a lunar eclipse, and a new moon (April 29) is a time to get rid of bad habits, finish projects, wrap up an unhealthy relationship, or whatever you need to complete or work on in your life. And of course, Easter on April 20th, fell during the most recent moon cycle. Easter is the greatest story of rebirth and renewal, ending one phase and coming back to life.
So what does this mean to you? When you take out the religious and mythological factors, and focus on the symbolic factors of the season it is a time to reinvent your life and your habits. What can you do to make THIS time different? First, decide what you are really dedicated to. Do you want to focus on being happy in your relationship and have a partner that you can have a healthy relationship with? If so, what has kept you from to this point from achieving that? What are you willing to give up (behaviors, habits) to have the happiness you seek?
Same with fitness. What are you really dedicated to achieve? Why is it important to you? What’s kept you from it previously? So in January you were going to lose 20 pounds, train to run your first 5K, go to yoga three times a week. Maybe you need to focus on just one thing. Again, what do you REALLY want and what are you willing to give up to have it or to achieve your goal? Try to set a realistic, time-framed, specific goal (I will lose 1 pound a week for the next 12 weeks). Write it down, note why it’s important to you (I want to get off blood pressure medication, I want to look fabulous in my bikini, I want to have energy to play outside with my kids, etc.). What are you willing to give up to have it? (happy hour, more than one “free meal” a week, a tv program that you watch that you could instead be at the gym, and so on). You can do it! All you need to do is decide to do something that you are really committed to and have a plan as to how you are going to reach that goal. I’m always here to help, so please email me if there is something I can give you some information on or a question you would like me to write about.
Liz Jones is the Wellness Coordinator for the City of Mesquite and a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].