I went to a class today on bringing balance and quality to demanding lifestyles. What I learned was helpful to me and I hope it will be to you as well. Since I was looking for a new challenge for boot camp, I thought it might be good for us to look at one, two, or all of these things and at the very least take a little time to at least think about it. If you can, as you're able, think, plan, and write out what you will do. Since this is relatively personal, you don't have to post about this publicly unless you want to, but it may be helpful to do so. If we, including me, will be brave enough to sit down and focus on this and then go through the steps necessary, I think we will see growth and the breaking down of any barriers that are preventing us from progressing. My prayer is that we'll be strong and rise above and move on. I know this isn't easy. Do what you can and don't worry about it. This challenge will officially end on April 9 as it's going to take a lot of thought before any action can be started, but, again, it will remain open after that.

Here's how they said to obtain life balance:

Discover who you really are (list your qualities).
Discover what you really want (list them out).
Recognize and manage your conflicts (what? how?).
Eliminate guilt imposed upon you by others, and yourself (what feelings of guilt do you have and what steps will you take to eliminate them).
Follow the path YOU choose to achieve your future goals, and equip yourself to do it. (what? how?)
Be realistic in setting your goals (list whatever goals you have).
Make your weekends work for you (me time).

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful challenge ! :D

Beth :peace:

This is a neat challenge ... one that is going to require quite a bit of thinking before I can post my replies.

Overwhelming (and wonderful)! I think each part of this challenge could take two weeks or longer. I have been a bit stuck on the first part of this challenge, which is to define yourself -- describe who you really are -- I guess so and so's wife and so and so's mother, friend, employee, all those sorts of things are not what the question wants. List my qualities? Must admit I am having a bit of trouble getting started on this question.

Sue I am going to take the challenge ! :)

I will be NUTS these next 2 weeks ( see journal ) but I have read this challenge several times today and I really feel this is going to be a huge help to me - so here I go........

Discover who you really are (list your qualities).
I am a woman who loves life and enjoys people - I love keeping my home nice and neat as well as my yard. I enjoy reaching out to others and being able to be there for them. I am sensitive sometimes to a fault and can take things too personal at times. All in all I love my life and who I am and who I am becoming.

Discover what you really want (list them out).
Money money money money !!!!!!!!!! :laugh:
OK really -
first to be able to help my family in any way they need it
second to lose my weight ( which kinda goes in with the first )
to have my writing and web sites be a success

Recognize and manage your conflicts (what? how?).
explain more please sue

Eliminate guilt imposed upon you by others, and yourself (what feelings of guilt do you have and what steps will you take to eliminate them).

Oh wow ! now there is no room or time for a novel here - I have made many many and many more mistakes in my life that has affected not only myself but my child in and in turn my grandchildren as well - I work on handling the guilt by doing as much for them as I can. Now the word guilt and the word being responsible can be conflicting words. I know the wrongs I did - do I regret them yes - do I try to correct them - yes - that is being responsible in my opinion - do I let the guilt/sadness of the things I have done stop me from moving forward - no.

Follow the path YOU choose to achieve your future goals, and equip yourself to do it. (what? how?) explain more please sue

Be realistic in setting your goals (list whatever goals you have).
I will come back to

Make your weekends work for you (me time).
I am succeeding at this more and more all the time....


Beth :peace:

In answer to Beth's questions,

Recognize and manage your conflicts--What are your conflicts, how do you intend to fix/cope with them?

Follow the path YOU choose to achieve your future goals and equip yourself to do it--What do YOU want to do (weight related or otherwise), how are you going to do those things (education, support, join a gym etc.)

This challenge can be whatever it was meant to be for us personally, whether weight related or a deeper issue, because it's sometimes the deeper issues that have caused us (or that we have allowed them to cause us) to gain weight.

Thanks for taking this challenge Beth. Even though I started it, I've been avoiding it because I wasn't ready to deal with it. But I'm ready now! (Well, not now cuz I'm trying to get ready for work, but tonight!). Sue

[QUOTE=Beth_150]
Recognize and manage your conflicts (what? how?).
explain more please sue

Follow the path YOU choose to achieve your future goals, and equip yourself to do it. (what? how?) explain more please sue
QUOTE]

I am going to post part of my challenge answers, I am still working on the rest. This has been a really interesting adventure and I am finding out things about myself and my desires that I didn't know before.


Discover who you really are (list your qualities).
Defining myself by my relationships: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, fan, employee, co-worker, homemaker, receptionist, pet owner, internet book club member, Yahoo group moderator, rubber stamper.
I am intelligent, artistic, kind, honest, loyal, and trustworthy.

Discover what you really want (list them out).
I want energy, a closer relationship with my husband, less stress in my work environment, more order in my home, more time with friends.

Be realistic in setting your goals (list whatever goals you have).

I need to approach all of these areas by knowing who I am, by staying in the present moment, by being as forgiving of myself as I would be of a loved one, recognizing guilt can be part of grief, and giving myself personal power.

I also need to continue making progress through Curves, FLYlady, and diettalk.com programs.

I think overall my goal is to gain a sense of peace and contentment with my life and to have a sense of gratitude.