Client Story: Life ALWAYS Happens

I worked with a couple 4-years ago, for about a year. They are family friends and two of the most wonderful, big hearted awesome humans you can meet. What that also means is, they are VERY good at putting EVERYONE and EVERYTHING before their own health.

There was alot going on for them at that time, including working on purchasing an existing business. The goal was, once they had the business purchased they could settle into focusing on the business and themselves. With all they each did, their shared mindset was "when we get into the business, 'x-y-z can happen' and things will be easier".

The common conversation with them was sharing the reminder that LIFE ALWAYS HAPPENS. Let's find ways to do LITTLE things NOW, while life is "crazy" so that when it does slow for you, you'll be into a rhythm and have that much more ability to progress healthy habits.

This didn't happen. Especially in the latter part of that year, it was not uncommon for this couple to be coming in exhausted, stressed and mentally all over the map with all they had going on in their world. None of that lends itself to being able to move away from that FIXED MINDSET easily for sure. In this state, SMALL changes are the ONLY type of change a human being can muster up. Trying to continue to push your body to experience BIG changes in that lifestyle, will only bring on GREATER BURN OUT.*

*(I wish I had been certified as a Sleep, Stress Management & Recovery Coach just a little sooner!! I didn't become certified until later that year.)

A Reminder 4-years Later

When my client was in for a quick treatment with Shawna (my wife), the three of us got talking. As friends, we don't get to see each other much so it's always nice to catch up. The business her and her husband bought has been great, but they've unfortunately dealt with some family losses in recent times. As we were talking about life and business, she brought up her old mindset; "Life will be easier when we buy the business". "Ya, right!" she now said as now it's clicking for her. She brought up how both Shawna and I, often reminded them at that time, "No it won't get easier". I brought up in our conversation how great it is that she's recognizing that now! THAT recognition is the first step to creating positive lifestyle change!!

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It also reminded me as a coach, that no matter the barriers, lack of action from a client or even resistance in creating change while working together - That doesn't mean they're not listening. And it doesn't mean that at SOME POINT down the road, they won't BETTER understand it. At different stages in life we're more OR less receptive to change, guidance and new mindsets. That's OKAY. We only have so much capacity!! That said, if we begin to practice having an open mind REGARDLESS of how life is for us at any given moment, we may be able to open up positive change more regularly in our efforts.

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FACT: LIFE ALWAYS HAPPENS. Where we often 'get it wrong' in our best efforts and intentions in healthy change, is that we think this FACT of life doesn't apply to us. That "all will be well" if I just....

• Lose this 10lbs...

• Force myself to get my exercise in 3-days per week...

• Force salads on myself for lunch everyday...

• Get to the gym after work "no matter what"...

... that kind of thing.

What we NEED to put our energy into more is, WHAT CAN I DO EVEN WHEN LIFE HAPPENS? THAT is your starting point. What's the "seemingly stupid simple" thing(s) that I can get into my day, for my health, NO MATTER WHAT kind of pitch life throws at me? As we practice this, our resilience and skills to take care of our health and wellbeing, strengthens, which brings a natural progression in what we CAN do, when life gets messy, busy and chaotic. I've had this conversation with SO MANY clients to remind them that when we approach our habits in THAT way, we set ourselves up for an incredibly GREATER EASE when life does (temporarily) slow for us! And when those times pop up, we feel THAT MUCH BETTER, THAT MUCH MORE CAPABLE and THAT MUCH HEALTHIER in our daily lifestyle and routines.