Hello friends, and welcome to this month’s Joyinmovement newsletter,
I can’t believe it’s December already and I’m closing out another year of Joyinmovement newsletters. As I’ve done since May 2006, I continue to bring you a monthly newsletter filled with what I hope is useful, educational, and motivational information. If you ever feel like looking back, here’s the link for ALL the newsletters: http://www.shellistein.com/newsletters/.
This month I’ve decided to use the word DECEMBER as an acronym for some thoughts I’d like to share with you. I’ll keep them short and sweet!
D: DEDICATION: Dedicate 2013 to changing ONE thing that would make your life better. Just one thing! Sure, if you get that one thing handled by February then work on changing something else, but for starters just choose one thing. Maybe you’ll choose saying “no” more often so you’re not over obligated and stressed. Maybe it’s getting more sleep or eating less sugar or sticking with a Yoga routine. Just choose one!
E: EDUCATION: Give yourself the gift of being a lifelong learner. Learn something new in 2013. And not something you know you’ll be competent in right away. Study a language, learn to play an instrument, learn to swim, take up a craft. I’m a lifelong learner and it’s one of the things I enjoy most about myself. And I enjoy failing my way to success. Sounds strange, I know. Yet learning things that challenge me bring me joy and such a feeling of accomplishment as I work my way through the learning curve.
C: COMMUNITY: Have you created a community for yourself of people who share your values around health and wellness? I hope so. It’s much more fun, and much easier to go through life with friends and family members who understand your Joyinmovement! If you’re short on friends to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle with, then go find some. Make it your mission to create the kinds of communities that support and nurture you! One tip I can offer is to fill your community with people of all different ages and of both genders.
E: ENCOURAGEMENT: I love that within the word encouragement is the word “courage”. Be an encourager and also let people encourage you! Help others be more courageous in creating their healthy lifestyles and know when you need to ask for help.
M: MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness is a “trendy” topic these days. Sometimes I think it’s made out to be more complicated than it needs to be. Keep it simple. Be mindful of what matters to you. Pay attention to your choices and to what you’re doing while you’re doing it. Eat mindfully, move mindfully, and treat others in a mindful manner.
B: BELIEVE: I think the letter B should B the first letter of the alphabet! Everything starts with our beliefs. Take some time as the new year rolls around and check in with your beliefs. What do you believe about yourself, about what you’re capable of creating, about what you deserve in the way of health? Talk with others about their beliefs. Our beliefs connect to the way we think and our thoughts lead to our actions. Want to take different actions and create different results? You must change your beliefs first.
E: ENJOY: How can we forget “enjoy”? If we forget to enjoy life then we’ve really forgotten what life’s about. For me, enjoying my life is a huge motivator. I enjoyed the heck out of 2012. I enjoyed my travels, my fitness routines, and of course spending time with my family, friends, and students. If you’re not enjoying your life then please move on to the next letter—R!
R: RESPONSIBILITY: It’s your life and you’re responsible for it. I wish you all abundant health and joy and all of these ideas I wrote about. Yet I also know that my wishes for you can only take you so far. It’s your creation. Yes, at times responsibility can seem daunting. Yet I find it exciting as well. I hope you do too.
As we travel the Joyinmovement road together, I know we’ll continue to encourage each other. I also know that we’ll bring our best selves into 2013 and create a wonderful year. Have a happy and healthy holiday season and may you continue to find Joyinmovement each and every day!
shelli
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