recommitment to alignment

Last night, I opened my Notes app and typed out some thoughts that had been living in my head rent-free for too long. These thoughts, as you’ll see, are all centered around the alignment of my spirit, mind, and body and the ways I want to improve or strengthen my alignment.

As I reflect on them, I think I allowed the thoughts to circle in my head because I wasn’t really ready to do anything about them, or maybe I didn’t feel the urgency since I wasn’t feeling out of alignment.

I knew I wasn’t doing everything the way I would like to, mainly to busy-ness and maybe getting a little too comfortable, and I still feel that my alignment is intact, but I’m picking up a few messages from my body that I need to dial it in–I have this weird soreness in the middle of my right hand that only lets itself be known when I move my hand certain ways. And my shoulders have a little ache to them that I thought was just muscle soreness, but it’s hung around—nothing bad, but enough for me to realize my body is trying to get my attention.

Why last night was the night to put these thoughts and the corresponding actions down on “paper”, I don’t know, but I know writing them makes them more real. I also know sharing them makes them more likely to be carried out, so I shared them with a couple of friends and my wife. A little accountability from my friends and a combo of accountability and a heads up to my wife. I had no intention of sharing the note hear, but the Universe had a different vision in mind.

I initially didn’t want to share this because I get annoyed when I see people “recommitting” every few months, and I didn’t want to be that person—I’m sure there’s more to why I get annoyed because I understand that the feelings triggered by others are just a reflection of ME. But that’s for another note. Since the idea to share came during my morning meditation, I trust there’s a bigger reason to share—I also think it’s the final “hack” to keep my Self honest and focused because I don’t want to be writing another “recommitment” post in six months.

So here’s the note I shared last night and how I am going to prioritize my alignment–I know what I need to be doing and there’s no reason I shouldn’t be doing all of these things, not just most of them.

Recommitment to Alignment

I do not want to be average re: health—the average American is overweight, inactive, and eats poorly—there are a lot of reasons for this…food supply, marketing, convenience, being overworked, too busy, etc. But I know this stuff, and I’ve been too relaxed allowing my Self not to eat as clean as I should and take care of my physical body because my biomarkers are all “good” and above average, but I know I should be better.

Plus, the “average” is not the baseline I want to use for my Self.

I know I can’t prevent everything, but I don’t want to look back and say I wish I would have done more in my 40’s.

Going forward:

• I will wake up 6:00 (summertime, 5:30 school year) to ensure I can do breath work, cardio (Peloton, row, walk), short light Tonal workout, meditate, and write.
• Yoga 4 days a week, minimum.
• Weights 4 days a week.
• Sprints 2 days a week.
• 10k steps a day (this has been proven to help longevity)
• I will limit processed foods and drinks (90 clean/10 free).
• I will prioritize hitting my protein goal each day, keep an eye on carbs, and stay below on fat.
• I will no longer drink energy drinks, including pre-workouts (replaced with electrolytes only); only source of caffeine will be coffee or matcha.
• I will prioritize sleep—7 hours each night, with a Power Nap in the afternoon.
• I will take back control my schedule and avoid overcommitting myself–I’ve started to go back to scheduling too much each day.
• Continue to create and express my Self
• If I am going to help people align spirit, mind, and body I MUST lead by example and it be obvious I am doing all of the above.
• After this note, actions speak louder than words—I don’t need to talk about it, just do it.

I’m sure I might add a few more things to this list, I did after texting my friends and wife, but these are the things I KNOW keep my spirit, mind, and body in alignment and there’s no reason for me not to keep my alignment on point at all times.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC