Break is over. Put the cigarette down.

I was laying on my back, my feet up in the air… (I bet I have your attention? Lol) …my feet, on a leg press. I was staring up at the ceiling listening to 90s hip hop deciding if I really wanted to work ‘that’ hard today. The thought, “why am I doing this?” came into my head. It was in that moment when I heard, “the break is over.” What. Who are you? And what do you want with me?! Break. *flash back to working in the restaurant bizz where there were cigarette breaks* What break?! I’m not on a break. Or, am I?

I don’t feel like we want to stop doing good or healthy things for ourselves it just happens over time. And for some, maybe it happens in a second. We get busy. We’re tired. We get hurt. We change jobs. We have babies. We get married. Lots of things happen that can change the rhythms of our routine and leave us feeling stressed about taking care of our bodies. Regardless of how it happens, it does. We get used to skipping days at the gym and throwing the baby out with the bath water with our diet. Doing less starts to became the norm and bada bing, bada boom, Bobs your uncle. If you’re reading this, you’re familiar with my passion for health and fitness. I know the benefits and yet, I still go on break for far too long. 

I have started a little practice that I’d like to pass on to you and see if it helps with awareness and ‘attaches your action’. I believe, part of keeping moving in a sustainable direction or towards a goal is first, believing you can do it. It takes confidence to know you can do the hard thing. So, wouldn’t you say that building your confidence is important? Yes. I would too. Now how the heck do we do that?! Ok, here’s the secret, are you ready… start keeping promises to yourself. Start, keeping, promises, to yourself. Failure to keep promises to yourself leads to a false sense of self and a lack in confidence. 

It’s the things we tell to ourselves, inside of us, without the need to proclaim it to the world on social media or even to your spouse that matter. You tell YOURSELF you’re going to do it, and then…YOU SHOW UP. Show up for YOU. No one else but you. Start off really little. Like really, really little. It’s as simple as pushing the snooze only ONCE. Putting your sunglasses back where they go. Or drinking a glass of water in the morning! Build your confidence. Start making promises to yourself…and keep them. Your word matters. Stop saying things you don’t mean and do what you say. 

The break is over my friends. Put the cigarette out and get back in there… Your future self is waiting to reap the benefits of your promises. 

CHEERS to 2024!! Have a Merry Christmas!!

Much love,

Shantell