Mind Body Connection with Dr. Tyrone - January 2021
New Year, New Me? Intentions not Resolutions
Hello Team Wukkout!
What a year 2020 was. As we are settling into 2021, some folks like to set New Year's resolutions. I am not sure about you, but I do not care for New Year's resolutions. When I create a resolution/s, within a few weeks, sometimes days, I fall off my goals. This is especially true when it comes to fitness. What I DO like to do is reflect on the past year. Some questions that guide my reflection are:
What have I done and didn't get a chance to do this past year?
What would I like to do or start-up in the new year
Given the challenging year of 2020, what have I been able to manifest the past year, and what do I want to manifest in lieu of the continued COVID-19 pandemic?
These questions help me honor what I have done and start to set an intention for what I would like to do. Setting intentions create a willingness to consider and accept new ideas and suggestions. This form of receptivity is integral in manifesting and putting out that which you intend to attract and call into your life, and that is the power behind it1.
Part of this receptivity is also uttering affirmations that help you reach your intentions. I recently came across a post on the Instagram page of @therapyforlatinx, where they outlined that instead of saying I did not do anything, try asserting:
I rested
I took a nap
Today I nurtured myself
I honored my body and spirit
I took a mental health day
I recovered from the week
I'm recovering from my workouts, and my body needs some rest
Especially in the past year, I have been trying to be mindful of what I am saying to myself and engage in affirmations that support and do not hurt my spirit. If you intend to continue working on your fitness, it is equally important to rest and allow your body to recover from said workouts. The above affirmations are necessary, especially when you are unable to work out for whatever reason. Rest and recovery are integral to any fitness plan. On those days, instead of saying: “I should work out, but I am not really up to it today,” you can say: “ I will rest today, maybe tomorrow, and modify my workout plan when I feel up to it. In the meantime, I will take a needed break for my spirit.” This reframing will help you reduce the guilt you might feel for not working out and acknowledge where you are, and be mindful of what you need at that moment. Admitting that these moments do come up and stating gentle affirmations will help you maintain your intentions. Your quest to keep your intentions should not be done in a way that induces guilt or shame; we are human and need to give ourselves as much grace as possible.
Pro-Tip:
What are your intentions for the year, month, weeks, days of 2021? Create a list of your intentions related to fitness, personal, professional, financial, or spiritual. In our next blog, we will discuss ways of activating those intentions.
With gratitude,
Dr. Tyrone
References
1Hagy, J. (2020, October 2). Intention has the power to change your life—here's how. The/Thirty. https://thethirty.whowhatwear.com/how-to-set-intentions
IG post from @therapyforlatinx: Instead of saying I didn't do anything, try https://www.instagram.com/p/CHodmV5AP-E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link