Do what you do not want to do, Annie.

Do what you do not want to do.  That's what my refrigerator tells me now, every time I see the note I posted last weekend.

My husband and I had gotten into a routine that could have been a case study for The Path of Least Resistance.  Even though we agreed that we were wasting hours every evening watching movies and stupid TV shows on Hulu, neither of us felt like doing anything different.  In fact, most of the time we did not want to do anything different, because we were tired or bummed out and we just wanted to do nothing.  This pattern, along with issues with my work, had me so depressed that I had finally broken down.

Do what you do not want to do.

Over the weekend, Doug and I talked about what we really wanted for ourselves.  Did we really want fatigue, listlessness and expanding waistlines?  Well, no.  Duh.

But really, no, we did not want those, and we finally accepted the fact that we would have to change our behaviors if we wanted to experience something else.

For the first time in a long time, we sat face to face, looked into each other's eyes and talked about our deep desires for our daily life, our careers, and family.  And, we decided that even though we didn't want to change our routine, we would do it.

Do what you do not want to do.

To support ourselves with this change, we moved Doug's office upstairs and made his old office into a workout room, the centerpiece of which is our TV!  This way, if we want to watch something, we'll have to work for it.  Or, rather, the TV will help us enjoy exercising.  See how perspective changes everything, Annie?

Last Monday night, for the first time in a loooong time, Doug and I sat in the living room together with music playing.  We talked, he worked on his new novel (holy moly, is it gonna be good!), and I tried out a couple of recipes from a new Paleo cookbook.

Can I tell you how much we got done?!?  Both of us were amazed by how much energy we had, even after a really busy day.  And, we got the added bonus of super tasty & healthy blueberry muffins :)

Do what you do not want to do.

Another way I'm applying this new mantra is with my thoughts.  It's easy for me to worry and spend tons of mental energy trying to figure out what I can or should do in order for something to turn out "right."  When I get into that pattern, I don't want to let go of my racing thoughts, because what if I'm just about to discover the secrets of the universe?!?

Today, when I sense worry creeping in, I remember my refrigerator's sage advice, Do what you do not want to do, and I choose to focus my attention on positive, affirming thoughts instead.  And you know what?  I've been more productive, I've enjoyed my work more, and my back doesn't hurt as much as  usual.  Hmmmm.

Do what you do not want to do, and eventually, that will become what you want to do!

Is it okay to rest? Ask your body or heart first.

It's Thanksgiving week in the US and holiday time in many countries, which means that we should be busy all the time taking care of others, making sure our homes look perfect and ensuring that everyone is happy.  Right?  If we're tired, then that's a good sign that we're doing what we're supposed to, because 'tis the season for giving, not receiving.  Right?  And, if we're suffering, then we MUST be doing something right.  Right?  

Depending on your upbringing and how much time you spend looking outside yourself to assess your worth, you might believe everything I just wrote. I know I used to believe it. In fact, I used to feel guilty if I rested and I believed that if I was not suffering in some way, then I wasn't working hard enough. It's no wonder depression skyrockets during the holidays, is it? 

When we only pay attention to our thoughts, 

we can become driven by "shoulds" 

and disconnected from the joy in life.

If you feel exhausted or overwhelmed this week, you can open up to ease by trying one or more of the exercises below. I use them all the time to help me overcome the "shoulds.":

1.  Take a deep breath, let it out fully. Place your hand on the center of your chest and continue breathing deeply. When you're ready, ask yourself, "Is it okay for me to rest?" and then notice the first thing that comes to your mind. 

2.  Do your best to give your attention to the first response you notice when you ask, "Is it okay for me to rest?" The first thing that comes to your mind will be from your deeper truth. Right after that, your mind might jump in with the old messages, like "No, you can't rest." If that happens or if you start having anxious thoughts, just take another deep breath and repeat the question. 

3.  Pause for a moment and ask yourself, "What does it feel like to be in my skin right now?" If you notice that your body feels tired, consider lying down for 10 minutes. If lying down inspires anxiety, then consider stepping outside into the cool air or simply stretching your arms up and moving your body in some way that isn't work.

4.  Pause for a moment and ask yourself, "How does my heart feel right now?" Whatever the response is, you don't have to change it. Just giving your attention to your heart will open up a sense of ease, even if you feel like crying - let yourself cry because crying is one way that the body releases energy. 

5.  Pause for a moment and ask yourself, "What is the next right thing for me to do?" and then notice how the response that you get feels to you. 

I know there are lots of other great ways to open up to ease during the holiday season ~ please tell me what works for you in the comment section.  And, remember: 

You are enough, just are you are!

(really)