Your Challenge This Week:
Come up with a DAILY SUCCESS RITUAL
By Bernadette Kathryn, LMT, IHLC
People often say that motivation doesn’t last.
Well, neither does bathing.
That’s why we recommend it daily.
~ Zig Ziglar
Motivation is a psychological feature that arouses a person to take action towards a desired goal. It can be considered a driving force; for example, hunger is a motivation that sparks a desire to eat. Motivation is the purpose that fuels an action into something bigger!
Motivation has been shown to have roots in physiological, behavioral, cognitive, and social areas. Motivation may be rooted in an impulse to improve well-being, minimize physical pain and maximize pleasure. It could also originate from specific physical needs such as eating, sleeping or resting, and having great sex too, ooh-la-la 🙂
Motivation is an inner drive to behave in a certain manner. It’s can be the difference between waking up before dawn to get moving on a goal and lazing around the house all day. The inner conditions such as wishes, desires, goals, promote movement and action in a particular direction or behavior.
Some success ritual ideas:
- Affirmations
- Success Journal
- Food Diary
- Workout Diary
- Inspirational Reading
- Meditation
- Savings Habit
- Gratitude Journal
You Choose — what’s going to keep you motivated for the long run? What are your ideas?
SHARE
What can you DO EVERYDAY
to reinforce your health habits?
i am keeping a daily health diary. i will be well equipped for my doctor’s visit to hopefully pinpoint problems. my health is my motivation.
my daily exercise has become quite a challenge. much as i would like to plan it in advance i must “take inventory” upon awakening and proceed from there. it’s easy to overdo these days and the cost is too great if i overestimate. yesterday’s yoga was too much. today i’ll go outside for an easy walk and appreciate the beautiful day and all the nature around me.
2 things that help my motivation are starting my day with the game’s daily inspirations/challenges and thinking about what workout I will do the day before; usually while I am swimming I am thinking about what muscle groups/rehab exercises I didn’t get to before today’s swim and plan what day I will get to them, either the next day or the day after that. I plan according to my schedule and the weather forcast. Then when I go to bed I remind myself what I exercise I have planned for the next morning so when I wake up, my intention is there.
The daily gratitudes keep everything in perspective for me…
from Joyce – HOT MAMAS
My daily rituals for success are grats, reading a passage from a Louise Hay book or cards and making one new exercise goal a week.
Keeping up with you all everyday is a GREAT ritual for me!
It really keeps me focused on the task at hand, reminding myself what’s important, and just the act of doing gratitudes everyday and sharing them helps me remember the good stuff and why I want to take care of myself….. thank you!
from Lisa – HOT MAMAS
I think it’s helpful to keep food, exercise, gratitude and water journal.
But nothing is easy. After nearly 48 hours moving minimally with my foot elevated, I’m thankful for so many basics I take for granted.
Keeping my scorecard daily definitely keeps me in the present. I can write my gratitudes on the backside, write what is working and what isn’t. Reading the daily inspirations are wonderful… thanks again Bernadette!
So another day of being grateful for good family
Health , lucky for all .
I love my fitbit and a food journal. I also like to write down my goals so that I can continue to read them when I am feeling in the mood to ‘cheat’ or not work out. I have to always realize that every day you wake up with a new choice – to either be healthy or not!
I recently started preparing a 2.2ltr bottle with my ginger, lemon and sometimes mint leaves in water and carry it with me during the day. This has helped me make sure to drink enough water. Fortunately, exercise comes naturally and I have several options. Preparing food ahead of time on Monday is working well, then Wednesday, Friday… fresh salad, chicken, turkey, fish. I make sure every morning after breakfast to know what dinner is going to be. Honestly, this is a totally new habit for me and one my husband appreciates as well. Everything used to be last minute! Bubble bath and gratitude happen every night! Normally I Share in the morning but had appointments early today.
My successful ritual is my morning coffee. I love the taste and warmth to start my day.
I am very externally motivated so I love the badges on both fitbit and myfitnesspal. It is rewarding to see the miles add up. (And yes, I think it is a little ridiculous that I need to use myfitnesspal, fitbit AND this game, but hey, whatever works!).
Pamela has a gift of putting thoughts into words. our daily ritual of sharing our gratitudes has become a special time of quiet contemplation and reflection.
exercise is an important motivator as is eating properly. daily affirmations are helpful.
the food and exercise diary that Loose It provides has been extremely helpful. My teammate and I developed a ritual to share our 5 daily gratitudes with each other. Not only does it help with accountability to do the gratitude meditation every day, but it is a window into what is going on in each other’s lives… very lovely. We have never met, yet this daily ritual is the most important one I have.