Lately I have been thinking about how I have the ability to change so much in my life. Yes, there are a lot of things that are not in my control, which I shared about in last week’s blog post, but there is also so much in my control. A couple weeks ago I decided to take my diet more seriously. Not that I ever ate a lot of processed foods or foods that contained refined sugar, but I definitely have a sweet tooth and would eat homemade desserts almost daily made with maple syrup. I also drink alcohol occasionally, and while I tried my best to get as much protein as possible, I didn’t really pay much attention to my calories or where the calories were coming from. I have decided to not drink any alcohol for a month (I’m currently 2 weeks in), and no to little sugar. If I do have dessert, I make a high protein dessert sweetened with monk fruit. And just in those two weeks, I am starting to see results in a shift in my body composition!
I share all this just to share one example of how we really do have control to make changes in our lives. I came across a couple of quotes that really spoke to me with regards to this topic and I wanted to share them with you. The first is a quote from Germany Kent, who is a journalist, author, actress, producer, and media personality. She said, “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” The other quote comes from Mark A. Cooper and it says, “Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.” Both of these quotes really encapsulate this idea of choosing your own path in life.
I get that there are some things out of our control. That is just part of life. But let’s focus on the things that ARE in our control. Over the past several years I have been working to incorporate new healthy habits into my daily routines. Now there are so many things that I do without even thinking about it. They are just non-negotiables for me now. Reading my Bible daily and praying, going to the gym regularly – I started lifting weights a year and a half ago and incorporated incline walking a few months ago, drinking plenty of water, doing some sort of evening reading, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night. But I am always looking for new things I can do with my time that are healthy in order to keep me from spending time on things that aren’t beneficial for me.
I just saw a Reel on Instagram from Mel Robins that really spoke to me. It was a clip from an interview she did with Dr. Tina Seelig, Neuroscientist and Stanford Professor. Mel asked her if someone is feeling unlucky in life, what is the first thing they should do this week? Dr. Seelig replied that they should do something to “stir the soup” or do something to add something new to your life. She said, we are all one decision away from a completely different life. This really spoke to me because it reminded me that we really do have so much autonomy in our lives.
I know I have shared recently about how I’ve been feeling stuck here in Austin, bored with my day to day life, wanting to move on. But I realized that I can make changes in my life now. It might not be downsizing and moving across the country right now, but I can find things to enjoy here and now. I can find ways to “stir the soup” right where I am! One thing I have started doing is going to the farmer’s market on the weekend. I used to go to the farmer’s market regularly, but when my kids got a little older and involved in activities my Saturday mornings were taken up with kids sports, and so I got out of the habit of going. It has been a long time since I had Saturday responsibilities that keep me from going to the farmer’s market, so this is one enjoyable thing I have added to my life. I have also been doing more solo hiking recently. I didn’t do this in the past because I always thought, maybe this weekend I could go on a hike with my husband or kids. But, I am not going to wait around for others to want to do things with me. I am just going to do the thing! I am going to be on the lookout for other ways I can “stir the soup.” I would love for you to share with me any ideas you may be thinking of to stir the soup in your life!
organized with joy 