Introspection

This week I was put front and center with a pattern of mine that affects every aspect of my life: I don't validate and celebrate my accomplishments. I achieve something and it's like a blip and onto the next thing in less than a heartbeat. Not a healthy way to sustain one's self. This revealing came about during a coaching check-in about the results of a course I just finished. My coach asked me if I achieved my goal (no I didn't), what my results were, and then smacked me with a cosmic 2 x 4.

I'm a "shoot for the moon" type of girl, always striving for excellence. However, I don't take a look and see what I've done along the way, in fact, I'm more apt to pick up the whack-it bat and beat myself into last week.  In the course I didn't reach my goal (it was a high goal), but what I did do was get 10 times my return on investment, a fact that I never gave the time of day. Try finding a savings account, an RSP, an anything that will give a 10 times return. Talk about an eye-opener and a pattern that must be changed right now.

I thought about pushups. Right now I physically cannot do a proper plank pushup (elbows in, all the way down and up) something that I used-to-could. Heck, I can't even do a proper knee pushup and I refuse to do a "jackhammer" pushup . Does it bug me into oblivion? Sure does. Do I want to scream every time I hear anything about doing one's pushups? Sure do. Is it easy to go down the rabbit hole of despair? Sure is. And now a perspective check, validation, and celebration. On March 5, I would have been happy to be able to be sans sling and just be able to lift my arm let alone support any weight whatsoever. I can do that now and much more, but have I taken the time to soak that fact in? I am now. In fact yesterday while I was in the chiropractor's office I put my hands on the armrests, elbows in, and slowly raised my upper body up. In that moment I did a pushup and was (still am) over the moon about it. It's far from a proper plank, but it's a good start and I'm thrilled because not only did I do it, but I know how to continue to build strength. I celebrated by savoring the moment, happier than a clam. I even showed my chiropractor who was thrilled for me.

I will still set high goals, it's part of who I am, but what I will do is recognize and validate the million steps to achieving that goal regardless of whether the goal is in Kung Fu, my glass, kitchen wizardry, coaching, or in my personal life. It has been said, it's not the destination that counts, it's the journey along the way. I now comprehend that point on a deeper level thanks to my coaches who call it like it is. Love ya guys!
Sherri Donohue
My Blog