Day 6_Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge

“Why am I in this world, at this time, experiencing this life?”  These are questions that lead you to contemplate your life’s purpose.

I had a wonderful dinner at Barbara Baldassano’s house with Lois Thornburg, Julie Jentges, and Patty Naegely; all of whom have committed to this challenge.  During our wonderful gathering, I witnessed one of the most important components of our challenge- camaraderie.  It is the catalyst that keeps you in the game and gives you the power to continue, even when your mind wants to quit.     

It takes discipline to do the hard things in life, the things that you want to put off until tomorrow because you are too tired, hungry, or sleepy.  However, when you know you have someone holding you accountable, encouraging and helping you through the rough patches, you find the strength to carry on.  And you find that you are motivated more for the cause than for yourself; you do it because of the people who support you, believe and trust in you. 

That motivation to carry on speaks to your human condition.  Deep down, you seek each other to ponder life’s meaning; why you exist; who you really are.  It goes beyond race, creed, color, religion or gender.  You have an innate curiosity about your purpose and the need to discover what drives you through this life. 

Our discussion went from gratitude, to travel, to relationships, cancer, metaphysics, religion, kids, dogs and cats.  All the while, we kept referring to the challenge and how our commitment to our goal impacted our lives in a unique and intriguing way. 

Tonight was confirmation that I am in this world, living this life, at this time to make a positive impact.  This is the Age of Knowledge.  Gone are the days where contemplating philosophical questions is preserved for only priests and scholars.  Today, everyone has the ability to learn, understand and contemplate the cosmos.  I believe I am here to ask the hard questions and to contemplate the possibility that we have unlimited potential.  I believe I am here to embrace everyone who comes into the Absolute Best family and teach ideals about what’s BEST for your body, mind and spirit.  I believe I am here to guide you through an internal journey, to help you look within and ask - Who am I? Why am I here?  Am I doing what I love?  Am I surrounding myself with loving and caring people?   Am I participating in society in a way that may positively impact a new generation?     

      

As the evening drew to a close, Patty mentioned there was a recent study which showed that most people would rather give themselves electroshock treatments than be by themselves to contemplate their thoughts for 15 minutes.   You can read about the study here http://www.shiftingthinking.org/?page_id=58

I encourage you to look deep inside, be still and visit the temple within your soul.  You will be amazed at what will be revealed.  Do me a favor though, don't push the button. (Read the study...then you'll know what I'm talking about.)  

Namaste

Day 5_Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge

Day 5 and you are still standing.  At the end of these 30 days, you WILL be the strongest you have ever been.  This time, it will be different.  Your mind is set to win because this time, you have been inspired by your heart.  Deep down inside you know the truth about yourself, who you are and what you are capable of achieving.  

   

This time, you will go beyond the simple machinations of getting to the studio; you will make a conscious effort to fully commit to your regime and increase the intensity of your workouts.  This time, you will hold to your resolve beyond the first few days of the challenge and your specific goal will become a lifetime habit. 

This time, instead of starving yourself to shed those extra pounds, you will make healthy choices and eat 5 to 6 times per day.  This time, you will get back into those “skinny” jeans.  This time you will clear yourself of toxic habits which squelches your potential and you will substitute those nasty behaviors with clean, positive and uplifting ones that stem from your heart.

You will make time for yourself.   You will get that massage your body desperately needs, that facial to make your skin feel fresh and clean and take the time to stop and smell the roses.  You will go to the shore and take in the ocean’s grandeur and watch the sun as it sets below the horizon.  You will feel right within your heart and know you belong in this world and have a true purpose for living.

 

Hard to believe?  Yes, I know.  It’s hard.  It’s hard to push through the pain of one more push up.  It’s hard not to eat that cookie full of sugar.  It’s hard to arrange your schedule and make time for yourself.  It’s hard not to drink that cup of coffee, that glass of wine, or not buy for that great looking purse when you know you really don't have the money for it.

How many times have you said “this time will be different” and then broken your commitment as soon as the going gets tough?  You are into the first week of our challenge and it might seem easier to fall back into your old habits than to go the distance so, here are 5 simple steps to keep you on track…this time.

1.       Admit that you have a problem. 

a.       Ask yourself how this habit is impeding your life.

b.      How is this behavior is benefiting me?

c.      What or who might be supporting this behavior?

2.     Then change your environment- change the scenery and change the people you surround yourself with if they are not supportive of your new way of living.  Research has shown that our environmental influences cue certain behaviors.  Force yourself to reassess your habits and the company you keep.

3.       Make it difficult to indulge in the behavior you want to change. 

a.       Declare your intention to someone who can act as your “accountability partner” or your anchor.

b.      Pay up- make a piggy bank and place money into it each time you indulge.  And make it a hefty amount.

c.       Don't buy the coffee, or wine, or whatever else it is you want to stop drinking, at the store.  That way, when the urge hits you, you won't have it in the house.  You'll have to get in the car, drive to the store and go to buy it.  (That’s usually too much work.) 

4.       Replace an old behavior with a new one. 

a.       Instead of having that cup of coffee in the morning, go exercise.   

b.      Rather than saying “no” to yourself, say, I’m going to do something positive for myself.

5.       Go easy on yourself.  The truth is that old habits are hard to break, it takes time.  Understand it’s a journey and change will not happen overnight however, in the end, the transformation is phenomenal! 

This time, you are done with the old way of life.  This is a new beginning and you can break old habits and patterns by replacing them with healthy and wholesome habits.  Take advantage of the gifts before you.  You are on the right path, in the right place, surrounded by the right people.  If you continue on this journey, you will solidify your intention and create a new reality for yourself. 

This time, the real you will reveal more love, strength and tenacity than ever before.  This time, you will do your Absolute Best!

Namaste.

Day 4_Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge

Well, today was a little harder than yesterday.  I was tired most of the day and had a little headache.  However, I didn't die; I made it through and I'm still here to talk about it.  That’s what’s so fascinating about making positive changes in your behavior; you usually think that it’s going to be harder than it really is.  You tend to equate deprivation with the threat of survival.

That is because your reptilian brain; the oldest part of your brain, dominates your survival instinct.  It carries out set programs, like procreation, autonomic functions of the body, feeding and self-maintenance.  It is geared to genetically preserve the human species.  Some of the traits associated with the reptilian brain are, aggression, dominance, obsessions, rigidity and compulsiveness. 

Then there is the limbic brain- which carries out your emotional connection to stimuli in the world.   It creates chemical information messages that embed themselves in your memory and are highly charged when events are volatile and emotional.  That is why associating an emotion with an event makes it more memorable.  My parents making me a cup of coffee and sharing in a loving and attentive way during those moments galvanized the pleasure that I get from drinking coffee.  You are mostly driven to experience pleasure.  These emotions and this part of your brain may have evolved to counter balance your reptilian brain, which is geared more for automatic response.  Without you limbic brain, you would keep doing the same things “by route” – in a ritualistic way without learning from your mistakes.  You make most of your decisions in life by what you feel as opposed to logical thinking. 

The Neocortex- the newest and largest part or your brain wraps around the limbic and reptilian brain.  This part dominates your logic, power of reasoning, creativity, language and integration of sensory information.  The problem is - the limbic brain and, at times, your reptilian brain can shut this part down.  If you believe you are in fear for your life, they will override your logic.

How many times have you said, “OMG, I think I'm going to die”?  However, how many times did you really think you were going to die?  I've said that in the last few days as I suffer through my withdrawals from coffee.  How about when you work out hard and your muscles are really sore, or when you go a few days without eating as much as you are normally used to?  The point is, when you try to change old behaviors that are no longer serving you, the memory of how the behavior once brought you pleasure fights for survival.  You then tend to go back to your old ways in order to attain that pleasure again. 

When it comes to your body, mind and spirit, the Absolute Best solution to this problem is to hold on and manually override that reptilian and limbic brain of yours.  Don't let them throw you into automatic pilot and make you walk around like a zombie reacting to your life in an unconscious way.  I want you to be fully awake and aware of your life; to feel both the pleasure and the pain.  And, when you push through the pain, especially with the help of doctors, a support group and scientific research that proves the path you are on is a healthy one and will increase your chances for survival - you will get to feel the pleasure of getting to the other side of that pain.  I promise.   

Hang in there, you are doing GREAT!

Namaste.

 

Day 3_Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge

Today was a good day.  My withdrawals from caffeine were much more subdued.  I wasn't so tried and I didn't feel any headache pain.   Tomorrow should be even easier.  I think I’ll be able to make it to the end of the challenge!!  What a difference a day makes.

I’m glad to see many of you have decided to take this challenge.  It’s because of you that I carry on with my commitment.  What kind of leader would I be if I didn't set the example for you?  Don’t ask me why I do these things; something inside of me pushes me to stand front and center.  Maybe it’s because I long for attention, maybe I didn’t get enough of it from my parents.  Whatever the reason, there is a driving force within me that pushes me to lead and press toward success.

I want you guys to be aware that many of the issues you are dealing with today, such as weight, addictions, anger, lack of focus, grasping for attention, etc., stem from your past history.   The emotions that linked you to those memories are stored deep within your cellular memory.  When events trigger those emotions, you respond according to those old memories. 

Just like me and my coffee.  The aroma, the sounds of it percolating, that first swig, the rush of adrenaline; all of those senses stimulate old memories within me of when I was a little girl.  My subconscious goes back in time during my morning ritual of brewing and drinking my coffee.  I know it’s not healthy for me to have 3 and 4 cups of coffee; so why do I do it?

It’s because of that automatic response mechanism embedded in my cells.  At one time in my life, it was pleasurable for me to sit with my mom and dad and drink a cup of coffee.  Those were sweet times when everything was good, when they paid attention to me, when the act of making me a cup of coffee was a sign of love.  I suppose my addiction to coffee is connected to my longing for that carefree and happy time in my life. 

However, I'm 58 years old now.  My dad has passed and I’m actually escorting my mom through the remaining days of her life.  She’s 90 years old and I'm not that little girl anymore.  It’s time for me to accept that my parents did the best they could and they gave me all the attention they could.

This self sabotage needs to stop.  There comes a time in life when you have to face the reasons why you make the choices that you make.  Blaming it on mom and dad is not going to clear the path for recovery from the pain.  The only thing that will help me is to love myself first by taking the best care of my body, mind and spirit.  Then I can be clear to love them and those who are near and dear to me.

I want you guys to think about the triggers that drive you to your habits and addictions.  Think about why you feel safe and familiar with that behavior.  What memories do you recall?  Do you need to continue this behavior to live well?  Ask yourself, is this habit serving me or hurting me? 

And I want you to be aware that this challenge will keep you on the straight and narrow for 30 days, however, what will you do when it’s over?  I want you to begin to consider what your life would look like if you continued on this path of self-improvement.   Would it be better or worse?  Hum, not a very hard choice, is it?

Namaste!

Day 2_ Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge

OMG.  I was so tired today.  My goal for this challenge is to go 30 days without coffee.  This will be my hardest challenge yet.  I have been drinking coffee since I was a little girl.  Cubans love their coffee; it is embedded into our culture.  I can remember having my little “tasita” of espresso when I was as young as 3 years of age. 

“Coffee is good for you; it opens up you blood vessels and arteries allowing for better blood flow- it’s good for the heart.”  That’s what my parents would tell me, and wouldn’t you know it, they were right.  I just “Googled” it and in a recent article published by the American Heart Association, their statement was confirmed.  A study by Tsutsui, M.D., Ph.D., lead researcher, cardiologist and professor in the pharmacology department at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan determined that caffeine can improve cardiac health.

I set a goal to cleanse my body of caffeine for 30 days so, regardless of the withdrawals I will inevitable have to endure for the first few days; I know my body will benefit from this cleansing.  The discipline of adhering to this goal is essential to this challenge.  It defines the Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge.  The fact that, my body will appreciate the break is secondary to the fact that I am disciplining my mind to adhere to a commitment and learn delayed gratification.  Trust me; I will reward myself after this one.  And that reward is the motivating factor to keep me on track. 

Did you set a reward for yourself?  If you didn't – please do it now.  Human beings are wired to seek pleasure and reward.  If we know we will gain pleasure at the end of a hard journey, it empowers us to keep going. 

So, are you a winner?  Do you have what it takes to push through the fatigue, the frustration, the inconvenience and the hard work to get the job done?  I believe you do.  You wouldn’t have signed up for the challenge if you didn't think so. 

It is only day 1.  How do you think you did today?  I suggest you write an inventory of your day and analyze how it went.  Where did you falter?  When did you feel vulnerable and weak?  What did you do to muster up the energy and strength to continue and stick to your commitment?

 

During this challenge, I want you to dive deep inside yourself and find the power lying in wait for your summons.  I want you to find the strength to reach your goal and embrace the knowledge that you can do anything you set your mind to.

This life is about searching within and merging with the energy that intrinsically connects us to source and our unlimited potential.   I believe we are here to experience the ability to tap that power.  Our knowledge comes from finding the many ways in which we can attain it.  And by taking these baby steps to reach our goal during these 30 days, we are preparing ourselves for the greatest life changing events of our lives. 

Keep going, you can create your Absolute Best life starting right now!

Namaste.

Clarita

Day 1_Absolute Best 30 Day Challenge Begins!

So here we are again, another 30 Day Challenge.  I congratulate you for committing to yourself and your life.  30 days of continued commitment to a goal is not easy and most people won't take this challenge because of fear and doubt.  There is fear that looking at the weaker, less attractive side of yourself will cause more pain than you can bear.  There is also doubt that you will be able to follow through with the necessary steps to achieve your goal which ultimately will affect great change in your life. 

However, you are one of those people who are willingly to face those fears and doubts and turn them into strengths.  You are willing to look at your whole being, take inventory, determine what needs improvement and then take action toward developing your Absolute Best.  You are among the few who rise to the top. 

I want to guide you through these next 30 days by sharing tools for daily living that will help you achieve your personal best.  I want to help you create healthy habits for your body, mind and soul because I believe in a holistic approach to health and wellness.  These 3 aspects of your being work synergistically to create a homeostatic environment on this planet and in this life.    

During this challenge, you will receive a daily exercise video and blog.  These are tools to remind you that you are not alone on your journey.  I am and will remain with you every step of the way.  I am accountable to you and therefore, I will show up daily.  I believe that 90% of success is simply that, just showing up.  So let the challenges begin!

My goal for this challenge is to quit coffee.  Now as I write this, I hesitate and think that this may be too hard for me.  I have to get up very early every day and coffee gives me the pick up that I need to start my day.  I know I’m addicted to it and I know it is not good for me drink so much of it; however, it has become such a habit that I override that logic and drink it anyway.

Is there something you do in your life where you manually override what your instincts are telling you not to do?  Do you behave in ways that go against your better judgment?  You are not alone.  Human beings are highly motivated by the reward pathways in the brain.  Most habits are formed because you have linked a behavior or action to pleasure, security and survival.  Unfortunately, sometimes, you “overindulge” in these behaviors and they cause negative side effects in your body, mind and spirit.  Even though you may receive messages from your body that it is not in a homeostatic state because of these behaviors, you may be so intrinsically connected to the memory of pleasure that you continue chasing that reward- no matter what the cost.

One of the ways to change a negative behavior or a bad habit is to substitute it with a healthier one.  That is the foundation for these challenges.  So, I commit to drink tea instead of coffee during these 30 days. 

I want you to focus on your wellness goal every day.  If you fill your mind with the steps you must take to stay on track and complete the challenge, you will spend more time thinking and behaving in ways that will improve your health and fitness and lessen the chances of sabotaging your success. 

Having me as an accountability partner will increase your chances of success.  If you can pick another Absolute Best partner besides me to connect with throughout the challenge, that will anchor your commitment even more.  An accountability partner improves you commitment because it is in your nature to socialize and surround yourself with like-minded people.  It is part of what make you human.  You have a basic need and want to commune with others; we are social animals.     

So let the games begin.  I wish you the best and hope to see you on the other side of our 30 days- healthier, happier and having completed the Absolute Best Challenge of your life!!              

Namaste,

Clarita

2014 THE NEW YOU IS EMERGING!

Hey there,

The last Personal Best Challenge sponsored by Absolute Best; forced me to write for 30 days no matter how I felt.  I purposely made a declaration to meditate for 30 days hoping to expand my awareness.  I used writing and the creation of fitness videos to document our 30 day journey and maintain accountability with others who also committed to their own Personal Best Challenge.

The fascinating part of this challenge was that even though meditation was my goal, the writing defined the milestones throughout my journey.  It made the experience richer, deeper, and more intense.  I felt tremendous freedom expressing my emotions and daily experiences through my writing. 

I am primarily a kinesthetic person so I am used to emoting through movement, facial expressions, touch, vocal tonality and visualization.  As a dancer, movement comes naturally to me.  I literally shake off tension or stress when they come.  I memorize patterns of movement.  I create physical energy that manifests into a reflection of who I am; for instance, Mambo Mania®.  The creation of that genre of movement defines me. However, writing adds another dimension to my creativity- another reflection of who I am. 

Who are you?  What is your VISION for your life?  What dreams do you have?  How and what makes you different?  Where are you going?  Have you ever pondered these questions and written down the answers.  Have you ever revealed your truest self to yourself?   Let me know. 

Join us October 6^th on our next Absolute Best Challenge and "Bridge the gap between you and your Personal Best". 

Declare your goal and let's go!

Namaste,

Clarita