First time ever that a School Support Team meeting felt productive! What can you hope to accomplish in a 20 minute virtual meeting with multiple attendees? Well . . . even if we did go over time a little . . . Really what it came down to today though, was me being prepared for it being brief, having my succinct points ready, and making sure I had done my prep beforehand and had set the stage with all parties involved. The biggest game-changer though? My MINDSET!
My head was clear, I was focused, and I had rational and reasonable expectations. My emotional brain was calm, but not turned off, as I really wanted everyone to feel that we are a team – not on opposite sides. Many things have had to align to get here. The most profound of which has been CONSISTENCY. A friend posted about this recently, and as I sat back to reflect on the word, I realized how many good habits I have formed and how consistentI have been with maintaining them since integrating, what I like to think of as, The Trifecta:
FITNESS
NUTRITION
SUPPORT
FITNESS, for me, means daily workouts that follow a pre-organized programme, not drop-in or vague suggestions of leg days or cardio days. It means a goal amount of non-negotiable “exercise” per day – a measure that I track with my watch. A non-negotiable move goal that is reassessed each week, as well as a step goal range for every day. It means whole body exercise that is functionally training for strength and working to benefit my cardiovascular health, along with breath work, to really tap into how my body receives and reacts to movement, flexibility and mobility as I age.
NUTRITION, for me, means conscious decisions about what I ingest:
• Is it fuelling me?
• Am I truly enjoying it?
• Is this the appropriate portion size?
• Are these foods in their simplest whole form?
• Am I balancing my carbs, proteins, fats?
• How much of what I’m eating are greens?
• Do I need this sugar/caffeine/alcohol (if any)?
• Have I had enough water today?
With simple changes, I have formed consistent habits and scrutinizing these details is not something I spend much time even thinking about anymore. It is a healthy mindset and in no way a “diet” of willpower.
SUPPORT means, for me, a combination of things. I have regularly visited a psychologist for years, but have always allowed it to be something that I stepped back from when things felt manageable or when finances required me to prioritize expenses. Understanding where this needs to fit (much higher on that priority list), through both challenging, and “easier” times, has been important to my personal development. As has having my husband and I understand each other better, our goals, and what we each need in order to feel loved and seen by the other, with the assistance of a therapist. Outsourcing support for the diverse needs of our kids, so that I’m not stretched thinner than what is sustainable. Support has also meant medication, to assist through circumstances beyond my control, in which I was in extreme burnout. These practices have been tremendous for resetting my mental health and coping mechanisms.
At various stages of my life, I have implemented each of these three, sometimes even two of them together, but I never understood their need to work as a trifecta, in order for them to become consistent, and second-nature – until this year.
What has sparked the greatest change in me, in a more proactive sense, has been joining a community of women that builds each other up, celebrates personal victories collectively, and inspires each other to each become our truest selves.
Understanding the impact of having so many women having your back, through thick and thin, allows us all to be vulnerable enough to be okay with having faults.
To be okay with making mistakes, both tiny and massive.
To be okay with showing up honestly, and unvarnished, and raw.
Re-setting and pressing play no matter what, consistently showing up for ourselves and each other.
Having each other has bolstered my success, my resiliency — empowering me for future obstacles — and has increased the likelihood of retaining that success.
So whether it’s advocating for neurodiverse kids, or seeking a promotion at the office, are you really living as your most honest self? Are you treating your body and mind with the value that it deserves? Are you struggling to find consistency in your busy life?
Are you truly LIVING?
You deserve to be.
You deserve success!
You are worthy of it.
It starts from within. If this speaks to you, and you could use the tangible support of others in your corner, let’s chat.