Hi friends and Happy Spring Equinox!
It was almost 6 pm before I realized it was the first day of spring here BECAUSE IT IS COLD TODAY! That’s how it goes when you become really excited about something that you can almost taste it. To get through this winter, I told myself I would take daily walks in the cold and speak gratitude statements into the coldness on each outing. This worked until there was wind, and then I did not want to go out anymore, but I did. LOL Doing something you do not want to do is full on MENTAL FORTITUDE.
There’s also something called DELAYED GRATIFICATION that requires patience and isn’t easily understood until you’re much older, but that does not make it easier. Brittanica says that delaying gratification is "the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future. The ability to delay gratification is essential to self-regulation, or self-control.” You might have come across a reel on Instagram or Facebook where a parent places a candy in front of a toddler and then tells the child, “I will be right back. Do not eat the candy and you will get an extra treat.” This is an old experiment in self-control of why wait when I can enjoy something now.
This is how it goes with me right now. I wanted to plant a flat of snapdragons when I saw my Iris bloom, but my husband warned, “Not yet, there will be more cold weather.”
I knew he was right but it sure was hard to wait. I see how difficult it is for my children to wait as they save for things like cars, bigger apartments, and trips; it’s easy to tell yourself “spending a little here and there on a night out is no big deal” until it is a big deal when you haven’t met your money goal.
DELAYED GRATIFICATION isn’t for the kids though; my husband, Chris and I, have been experiencing lots of hurry up and wait rebuilding our nest after our three little birds flew out into this big world and while it feels weird sometimes, it also feels exciting.
I believe in DELAYED GRATIFICATION and I believe it IS a part of winning in life. You will always be working towards something; we can’t help it because we are wired from the moment we enter this world to be doers. It’s the waiting that’s going to test you. But, you can work around the anxious feelings that come with waiting by writing out what it is you’re working towards and counting each little win along the way.
You can also eat chocolate while you’re waiting.
I created a yummy protein “candy” bar to add to your chocolate fix. You can dress these bars up or down.
I pray this newsletter brings you joy. I have many opportunities to get plugged into wellness and happy-making. As you might know, I enjoy helping others in their fitness and nutrition journeys and host monthly groups on the BODI app. The app holds all of my posts and is free. All you need is the subscription. Ladies only in my groups! You can grab a subscription HERE.
I am hosting REVIVE & THRIVE, my spring renewal program. To read more about it, go HERE and there is my monthly newsletter HERE.
Happy spring everyone. Plant lots of flowers and do your best to delay that gratification! It’s coming!! Don’t give up!