Each month we’ll bring you a note from one of our therapists. It might be something they’re reading, learning or just something they want to share.
This month’s note is from Jodi Hook, PT, MS:
Many blessings to you all! And congrats–you made it thru the holidays (hopefully well)! Now many of us have begun the journey of making and holding to our New Year’s resolutions. A tough task indeed. And whether or not we will hold strongly to them is much more a state of mind than of the body itself.
Recently, I read a very interesting book called “Making a Change for Good” by Cheri Huber that I think may have some good insight as to how we can better manage to hold a little tighter to our resolutions in the coming year.
To be completely honest, when I started reading this “simple” book, I rolled my eyes a few times in the first 5-10 pages. Somewhat strange language. Conceptually very different than my typical read. Talking about the idea of self discipline and the “voices” in our heads that distract us from what we intend to do. “What voices?” I thought. But the more I got into the content of the book, the more I started to recognize (in myself as well as from what I’ve heard from so many others) how negatively we speak to ourselves. That negative self-talk can derail us from our goals.
A major way to move toward improved self-discipline is by being compassionate to yourself–like you would to a friend. Try to recognize the unkind / negative self-talk/ “voices” that you allow to speak into your story as you work toward current tasks and new goals. Be gentle with yourself–in word and action–as you work toward being better at eating, time management, and/or self-improvement in any way. And consider what a difference it may make in continuing forward toward your goals/ resolutions more long term if you allow yourself the grace to be human along the way.
Self-discipline in anything new—changes in eating, adding a new home exercise program for improved health and/or pain control, etc—is a journey thru hills and valleys. It’s rarely (if ever) a straight upward journey. So taking the time to notice, and not judge, what derails you along the way may just be what the doctor ordered to allow you to move forward with greater grace and to stay on track toward improved health and happiness in the new year.
Blessings to you and yours in and thru the new year! My you be kind, gracious, and generous to yourself and to others!