Did you enjoy your Science classes when you were in school? Maybe you did and perhaps you did not. Either way, I think you’re going to enjoy being the scientist for this month, especially since this science experiment involves YOU!
Before and during the experiment, I ask you to make an effort to become mindful of the way you talk to yourself.
For example - instead of I “have” to do this experiment; try saying that I “get” to do this experiment.
Simply changing the way you say something (even to yourself) immediately changes your mindset about participating in the experiment.
Did you know that attaching a label can change an experience? So my next ask is that you limit the labels used for yourself. Labels are powerful, as they immediately correspond with emotions.
For example, saying “I’m a clean freak” gives the impression that you’re uptight and don’t know how to have any fun. This takes a while to get used to, but if you start to catch yourself labeling - backup and remove the label. This gets easier with some practice.
The responder community knows this all too well through the most recent negative media we’ve been getting. Let’s not internalize that bad publicity! You know why you do this job and you know you do a good job!
My last request is that you practice being more mindful of your alcohol consumption.
There’s no harm in taking a second to ask yourself ”Do I really want that third glass of wine?” Maybe for you, it’s simply counting the number of beers you’ve consumed rather than just drinking without any awareness or mindfulness of how much and what you’re actually consuming.
I’ll ask that you get yourself a journal as we venture closer to the start date. You may find it helpful to go get one now and actually start writing down what you’ve had to drink each day. This not only provides visual evidence of what you’re drinking, but it might be something you want to look back on when the 30 days are over. If you DO decide to go alcohol free (AF) at the end of the 30 days, you can look back at the first days of your journal and with great pride, see how far you’ve come!
Mindfulness is SO key to SO many things and it’s never too early to start practicing this habit.
Most of our lives are consumed with phones, computers, televisions, and other static that it’s difficult to focus on anything but what’s next on our agenda. So many days fly by without any significance. Wouldn’t it be nice to be more present?