Monday Mindset Motivation: Embracing Life's Seasons

Our Monday Mindset Motivations posts are our opportunity to gain a fresh, new perspective on life. So often we attack the same situation from the same angle that we can feel we are hitting a dead end. With a new perspective comes new ideas, new solutions, new outcomes. Always remember, conquering our bodies and lives first begins with conquering our minds, hence the importance of a mindset motivation!

“In between goals is a thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed”

-Sid Caesar

Hey, girlfriend. How are you doing? I’m not going to write this post in some philosophical way that you would typically get from a motivational speaker or positive-thought author. I’m going to write this from my perspective as an every day girl doing her very best to live in a healthy, happy and enjoyable way.
Not even for us health and fitness enthusiast, but with individuals from all different backgrounds who all have different interests and different lifestyles, one common area that we all seem to struggle with is this idea called balance.
Now, don’t get me wrong… I don’t claim to have anything “figured out.” Seriously… yesterday, I washed a load of laundry and forgot to add laundry detergent lol.
One thing I’ve really struggled with over the past several years is balance. Strangely enough, it’s the one thing I truly feel I have a lot of these days.
Balance in my life came from adopting one perspective. Literally, one! And I hope it changes your life in the same way it’s helped transform mine.
I had to look up the definition of balance. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines balance as “a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance.”
So, how do we achieve this inner state where we feel all the different areas of our life are of the same importance and receiving the proper amount of attention?
We don’t.
That’s the mindset we can’t hold onto.
Let go of that idea.
Instead try embracing this mindset…
Just like the weather has changing seasons, so do our lives. During those different seasons, our priorities shift as do our goals. We live our lives according to each season’s priorities and goals.
Balanced is reached when we embrace these ever-changing seasons and allow our priorities, goals and daily tasks to change as well.
Okay, what the helllllll does that mean, Lauren?!
Something many of us can relate to is college. What memories come back to you when you think of the week of college finals or week leading up to finals? How about hours upon hours with your face stuck in a book.
If you’re a mom, think about the first few weeks or months you brought home your new baby. Was it like nothing else, absolutely nothing else, mattered?! Life outside of your little family ceased to exist?
Those are seasons! During a hectic school semester or your week of finals, other things may have taken a back seat.
I remember Anthony and I had an anniversary during a really busy school time. Because we were in that season of focused schoolwork (well, I was, maybe not Anthony ;), we opted for low-key plans. We embraced the season we were in. We accepted it for what it was. We understood the priorities and goals of that season. We rode it out.
Here’s something many of us may be experiencing right now… SUMMER!
Summer, for me, is a season of going, doing, seeing. When it comes to my health and fitness, goals, they fall a little lower on my priority list.
For the past several months, I’ve been traveling just about every 2 weeks out of state. My season could be summarized as: LG Sisters Meet Ups. My priority was YOU. My goal was to get together with my LG girls for meet ups and to connect and share.
The constant traveling and hotel life meant a heck of a lot of restaurant meals and many missed workouts.
BUT, it’s okay! That was the season I was in! I knew my goals and priorities were shifting. I felt the balance because I embraced that season.
Did I feel guilty? Absolutely not.
Let me tell ya something girlfriend… your main purpose in life is not to get to the gym and eat healthy meals.
That may certainly be a top priority during one of the seasons you’re in, but it shouldn’t be the only priority.
You know I’m a Real Housewives superfan, right?! Well, it just so happens that those New Jersey housewives were speaking some serious real talk tonight.
Siggy, one of the new housewives, made a comment about moving forward, saying, we don’t do anything backwards… we don’t drive backwards, we don’t talk backwards, we don’t get undressed to go to work naked in the morning. Our lives are all about moving forward.
If you’re in a season where health and fitness hasn’t been a top priority, that’s okay. Move forward.
One of the things I was always bouncing back and forth with was in finding a balance between setting goals/making plans (especially with health and fitness) and going with the flow/being more relaxed.
Do you ever feel that internal struggle?
Here’s the practical approach to how I find this balance through the season mindset…
1) FIND YOUR SEASON

Life’s seasons aren’t summer, fall, winter and spring, rather “getting married,” “vacation,” “starting a new job,” “going back to school,” “moving.” See what’s going on in your life. It’s probably the area in your life getting the most attention.
2) SEE WHAT YOUR SEASON DEMANDS OF YOU… PRIORITIZE
During this season, what do you need to do and who do you need to be. If you’re starting a brand new job, your season is requires focus. If you’re a new mom, I’m sure your season requires your time and whole lot of it. If you’re in the midst of a summer full of vacations, it’s a season that may be asking you to loosen up a bit. There’s no “good” or “bad” to these answers.
These answers will lay the framework for that season’s priorities. This is a really important step, so take some time here!
3) MAKE A PLAN
Here’s the funny thing about plans… we all make them. I sometimes giggle when I hear people talking about “not having a plan.” Heck, I think I’ve even said that. Guess what? That’s the plan! The plan is no plan. We always have a plan whether we are aware of it or not.
Maybe your current fitness plan is to exercise every AM before your new job. Maybe your most recent meal plan is the “no plan” plan.
Just remember, life is a plan. We plan on waking up at a certain time tomorrow. Plans aren’t the enemy. A plan that corresponds to your current season’s priorities and goals are where you may find the balance you’re seeking.
Side note- if you’re someone who is in the “no plan” plan phase. I feel ya! Forever, I was in that space of desperately craving balance and thinking letting go of a plan was the answer. For me, it certainly wasn’t and lead me to feeling even more out of whack. Try getting honest with yourself about your season and priorities and the plan will fall into place.
4) EMBRACE + ENJOY THE SEASON
We cannot forget we have one life to live. We need to enjoy every season: good or bad. Sometimes seasons aren’t always great.. we face break ups, death, financial hardships, injuries. Regardless, we need to embrace the current season.
It may not be the season where our abs looks their best. We may have gained a few pounds. We may feel as though we took two steps backwards with our boss. Let the season be what it is. Remind yourself of the season your in. Review those priorities and goals to help you go with the flow. It’s okay that health and fitness may be taking a back seat this season. Do you best to enjoy!
Don’t forget… seasons change. Keep your eyes forward. Your next season is entirely up to you!