Putting My Oxygen Mask on First – Showing Up

“Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you.” Anonymous

I’ve recently been reminded a lesson that I’ve already learned from doing CrossFit for years – the value of showing up consistently – including the days when you don’t even feel like getting out of bed or know you won’t hit any PRs. It is the consistency and discipline of a regular practice that helps make the gains – not just those PR setting work outs.

That lesson also applies to meditation – and sitting in meditation even on days when I feel agitated and like “I have ants in my pants” or struggle focusing on my breath because I’m so stuffed up that I can barely take in a  breath or the days that my mind is constantly chasing after thoughts and is doggedly attached to them. And it applies to my daily “morning pages” or journaling, and staying and writing even if I am just writing “I don’t know what to write.” over and over. It applies to going for a walk in the woods even when I don’t feel like going out in the cold – (except during the polar vortex – I did NOT have warm enough winter wear to make that safe.) And it applies to my Putting My Oxygen Mask on First – and showing up even if I don’t feel like I have a message to share.

By regularly showing up for the things that are important to me regardless of how I feel, I am demonstrating my commitment to my values and making progress….even if it is slight progress…it is still forward movement. And most importantly I am showing my commitment to myself.