Eat-A-Piece-Of-Pie Day

01/22/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
January 23rd is eat-a-piece-o-pie day at a local eatery. Eat-a-piece-of-pie was the name of the sorority I belonged to in college. The University I attended arranged for  computer dates the first week of school. My friend and I thought it was a joke (at the time, we still used punch cards to program computers) and never signed up. We met across the hall from each other and decided to attend the events together. (Ironically I actually did meet my second husband online.)  We formed our sorority soon thereafter.

Eat-a-piece-of-pie day is also significant because it is my son's birthday. My son is grown, yet I continue to celebrate his birthday whether he is in town or not. Celebration is a part of my life. I've learned to embrace the changes, to create tomorrow, and to enjoy the journey. This is the model I wish to leave behind, and share with others.

Why does the woman in the picture look so radiant? She eats pie. She goes to the Colorado Rockies. And she is the symbol for those attending my upcoming retreat "Becoming You: The Next Chapter. For a Healthy and Vibrant Life, and A Strong and Energized Body." Consider what and how you're celebrating your life, and join Mary Shackelford, health and wellness coach, and me, a life transitions expert,  for a "spring break" womens retreat. We'll be sharing how to embrace the changes, how to be your prime in your prime, and enjoy the journey.  For more information, click here.

Whether you actually eat pie on this day or not, I hope you're celebrating wherever you are.
Add Comment
 

Cultivating Change- Celebration, Rewards and Environment

05/17/2011

0 Comments

 
The final two sources of influence involve external rewards and celebrations, and ways to support and control your environment.

What are the small rewards and celebrations that will keep you motivated? When you reward the behavioral changes, the long term results will show up. For example, let’s say you’re working towards improving your health. The behaviors you’ll want to reward may include eating less and eating better; a mix of exercise including strength, stretching and cardio exercise. If you can celebrate progress with small rewards, you’ll reinforce the good behaviors. Can you think of some you might use to your benefit? What are some personal or social rewards you could put in place? Think small, think now.

The final source of influence relates to your environment. What are you doing to reinforce and support the behaviors that will bring you what you want? Are you able to keep things close and convenient that support you? Are you distancing yourself from those things that tempt you? You can put up cues that help you stay on track. Are you using tools to help you track and stay aware of what you’re doing? Are you structuring good choices as a default in your life?

Retooling your space, creating systems, and using tools and routines to help you stay on track, are all useful. Examples for weight loss might be removing unhealthy food choices from your environment. Or using tools to track your food intake and exercise. Do you have a regular fitness routine? If you’re working on your financial health, maybe you want to save more and spend less. Setting up automatic deposits and paying your savings account first is a common first step for supporting that behavior.  Are you tracking everything? Are you completing a weekly financial check-in?  Maybe you’re using a tool like Quicken to help you track and manage your budgets. (If I'd used my automated tools while travelling this week, my Monday Morning Minute would have been sent out on time!)

As you experiment with reinforcing the new behaviors, you can continue to adjust and modify as you learn to address obstacles, challenges and excuses that move you off track. When you consciously use all six sources of influence to help you create change, you're truly investing in yourself!

Add Comment