Challenging Myself

One of my goals (goals sound sturdier and longer lasting than resolutions, wouldn't you agree?) for this year is to find new ways (both big and small) of challenging myself. 

Specifically, I want to improve my diet, cutting out unnecessary sugar (breaking my addiction) and consistently spending more (when necessary) on healthier food rather than paying less for junky processed food. After all, I can't put a price on my health.

I also want to amp up my workouts, not necessarily making them more difficult (I'm pretty sure Jillian Michaels is as tough as it gets), but trying new ways to move, like Pilates, yoga, dance and/or ballet, that will strengthen my weaknesses, which are namely flexibility, balance, and core strength. 

I want to prove to myself that I can do (nearly) anything I choose to do if I work hard and persevere in what I'm doing. I want to stop placing limits on myself and automatically saying "I can't do that" whenever something is difficult and uncomfortable. The more I do, the more I believe I can do. My self-confidence grows. And, as a nice bonus, there's a wonderful shot of adrenaline for trying and succeeding at something new. 

I have nothing to prove to anyone else. I don't need applause, attention, affirmation, or attention from anyone else (this blog notwithstanding) as long as I have my own. Self-confidence is powerfully liberating. It's no wonder I've always envied people who seem to float effortlessly through life because they believe in themselves and their abilities. That's what I want. I don't want life to be an unceasingly painful effort. I don't want to feel that each day is a burdensome task to cross off my endless to-do list. 

I want to awaken to the joy of life, to see each day as an adventure to be explored, and to discover all the beauty within. I want to become more open to life, more open-minded, more open to change, to love, to beauty, to peace, to renewal, and to God.