My Recalcitrant Inner Child
Do you ever struggle to do those things you know you “need to do” for yourself? Those things that are in your best interest?
Sometimes, it’s like struggling with a child who doesn’t want to eat cooked carrots or clean their room.
For instance, I know I need to move my body more.
Given that I spend a great deal of time working on the computer, I don’t move around as much as I know I “should”. Still… the idea of “exercising” leaves me cold and unmotivated.
I even have a treadmill in my office. How convenient! And when I use it… when I move my body, it feels SO good! So much so that it’s literally brought me to tears.
So, one would think having such a visceral response would be motivation enough to move my body more.
Not necessarily.
Walking on the treadmill… according to my Ego (Inner Child) is “boring”. Even when I put fun, uplifting dance music from my teens.
The same can be said for walking around my neighborhood. The space she (my Inner Child) calls a “concrete faux jungle”.
I just haven’t found anything that really motivates me enough to keep my interest. That is, until last night…
Last night, with some added motivation from one of my BFFs, I went to a belly dancing class for the first time in YEARS.
Now, “years” is easy to say, I know, given what has been going on on our planet these past couple of years. And I did make it to a class, by myself, prior to that, but I’m talking MANY YEARS since I went to class on a consistent (committed) basis.
I loved belly dancing.
I loved my teacher, my fellow students, and just being present in my body.
A lot has happened since those days, though, including the fact that my body is now a decade or more older.
But I went last night!
Granted, even with the added motivation, my Inner Child (who often seems older beyond her years) was trying to come up with all manner of reasons we couldn’t go.
“I feel a little spinny. Am I getting another Inner Ear Infection? Can I drive? Would Dh be willing to drive me there? No…”
“I’m tired. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I feel drained. I just want to stay home and chill.”
But I wasn’t allowing it. I knew in my heart of hearts, all I needed to do was get there and everything would be well.
And it was!
In fact, it was fabulous and something I needed on SO many levels!
We have a bit of a break between now and the next class, but I’ll be there, even if I have to drag my Inner Elderly Child kicking and screaming the whole way. 😉
Do you have things that you know you need to do for your overall wellness? How do you motivate yourself each and every time to “stay the course”? I would love for you to share in the comments below.
Do you resonate with this post? I invite you to visit my blog for more like this.
