MMM #12 First Check-In

June 7th, 2010 - filed under: Furthermore » Monday Monthly Mission

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Our mission this month is all about facing down a demon, besting a bad habit to better ourselves. Because there is a great potential for emotional/psychological ‘hard work’ here, I thought it might be best to check in each Monday this month. These missions are always a collective effort, but now more than ever it’s time for community to come through. A lot of you were brave enough to take on quite a challenge, and I want to make sure you have a good support system!

For me, so far the struggle with salt has actually been easier than I’d anticipated. Knowing that sprinkling on the seasoning is just *not an option*, has allowed me to just settle in and appreciate a dish for what it is. However! I have noticed that I’m making up for missing flavor in other ways – like extra hot sauce, dressing, or various other condiments. What can I say? I like loud flavors!

So, how is your mission going? Is it easy breezy or have you been battling? And what can we do to help you along?

Good luck to all of you! BONZAI!
sign-off

  • http://tabularasahealth.com Hope Hughes

    Doing well with the salt…getting up though…I doing better! :D

  • Kenna

    not a good day for me today–no gym. i’ve had a very upset stomach. last week, though, I went 3 times (my goal was 4). i think i’ll turn in early tonight and knock it up a notch tomorrow.

  • http://flightsofthevalkyrie.blogspot.com/ Valerie

    Not watching TV has been easy. But I am thinking I need to change my mission to getting up at a decent time.

  • http://twitter.com/erosan erosan

    @Valerie: that’s what I’m struggling with too… I can go to bed at 6 am any day, but waking up at 6? nonesense… I’m trying though.

    Anyone has a tip for a night-owl that wants to change ways?

  • Minna

    Hey, I think I need to change my mission, too. I hope it’s not too late – still got over 21 days until the end of June!

    I’d love to stop consuming sugar but I realised just concentrating on that one little thing right now is not what I want/need to do. I’ve been very stressed and unhappy lately that I figured I should try and start eliminating stress by taking control over my actions. Being unhappy with myself is a major cause of my stress and the main trigger for dermatitis. I tend to fall into old patterns: say things without thinking first, react in certain ways, waste my time on doing nothing, always rush somewhere without never really being present. Without relaxing and enjoying the moment. I truly believe that each moment is worth being present, and that we shouldn’t constantly worry about the future or the past. I tend to subconsciously blame myself for things that I’ve done wrong and it’s so destructive! I think the only way to always be happy and relaxed is being present and self-aware at all times. Being present in this very moment. That brings clarity and self-control and that’s the solution for all problems. Including overconsumption of sugar. Does that make sense?

    So. THAT will be my mission instead! Hahah. Might be a bit trickier than just cutting out sugar… I’m turning 21 this Friday and I reckon that mission sounds suitable. If not now, when?

  • Helen

    Thanks for the reminder! My change has been largely absent so far, so it’s really good to have this post to remind me what I was aiming for. Back on the wagon!

  • http://thismomentinfrance.blogspot.com/ Diana

    Not so easy this sugar thing, especially with visitors coming into town and potlucks where saying no is a bit of a problem (since I already say no to the meat!). And it’s ice cream/sorbet season, my all time favorite!

    So I’ve been focused more on moderation, which is almost harder for me than a total sugar fast. And am trying to bump up fruit consumption instead – just got a ton of fresh fruit at the organic farmer’s market this am. Sawyer’s suggestion of getting my sweetie involved in the mission isn’t really possible, since he doesn’t see the sugar as a problem. But I did suggest to him today that we eat more fruit instead of cookies, which he grudgingly sortof agreed to. so we’ll see how that goes.

    What I am happy about it, and what the group mission is helping with, is willpower at the store. I did a bit of food shopping on saturday, and managed to avoid buying any sweets at all, despite finding some really yummy organic fair trade chocolate bars on sale! I just kept thinking “monthly mission..”

    it’s definitely good to check in to help stay on track!

  • Theresa

    I’m doing alright with the no nail-biting. I’m actually going with my sister for a manicure this weekend to celebrate not biting for 2 whole weeks! My cuticles haven’t been left alone as much as I’d like though so I’ll continue to work on that. I was really inspired by the missions shared with everyone, so much so that I’m trying to blend in regular flossing like some mentioned. Nice work everyone!

  • http://agreenspell.com A Green Spell

    Doing good – not overloading on salt! Yippee!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Hope Hughes – Awesome on the salt! It’s not as bad as you’d think, eh? As for the getting up, I’m sure it’s going to be a process with some steps forward and some steps back. It’s difficult to reprogram your entire body clock! But, I know you can do it!

    @ Kenna – I think 3 times last week is great. No problem with easing into things. Now you can make this week really count!

    @ Valerie – Why not do both? Getting up early is so beneficial for life in general. It’s definitely something I’m working on myself. ;-)

    @ erosan – Melatonin to help you get to sleep, no food after 8pm, no tv or computer an hour before bed, and a nice loud alarm set ACROSS the room so you have to get up to turn it off.

    @ Minna – No worries, it’s not too late – it’s all about what works for you.

    Good luck with your new mission. You are absolutely 100% correct on mindfullness being the key to happiness . . . but you might want to give yourself more than a month! =D Seriously though, it’s something I’m constantly working on and you’re brave to take it on. Good luck and just remember to keep checking in with yourself.

    @ Helen – Yay for back on the wagon. Luck!

    @ Diana – No, sugar is definitely not so easy. But it sounds like you’re doing great if you’ve managed to keep the shopping part clean. If you can save the sugar for special occasions I think that’s quite the success.

    @ Theresa – A celebratory manicure is a great idea! Good luck with keeping up the momentum (and the flossing, good for you!) for the rest of the month!

    @ A Green Spell – Yay! Go team No-Salt!

  • Melisa

    I have realized that I will not be able to go instantly from vegetarian to vegan, and accepting that has given me a lot of peace. I’m not giving up, but giving myself time.

  • Meghan

    Man, so far I TOTALLY SUCK at this mission. I think I have a plan to limit myself to maybe a half an hour of internet in the morning and a half an hour in the evening. But I haven’t managed to implement it yet. Not randomly checking facebook WHENEVER during the day will definitely give me a lot more time to do more worthwhile things though. So I WANT to do it. But then… I really want to see if whomever has sent me a message back yet. :-P There’s always tomorrow!

  • http://twitter.com/erosan erosan

    @Meghan: If you use Chrome, you can use this extension to avoid cheating… I’ve used it on the office to try and limit my procrastination surges, with a decent result…

    https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

  • Meghan

    I do use Chrome, thanks, I will definitely try that!

  • Meghan

    Oh man. This is so awesome. It even tried to dissuade me from increasing my allowed time on a site from 10 minutes to 20 minutes by threatening to electrocute a kitten. Someone knows me well…

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Melisa – We’ve talked about this via email, but I just wanted to say I’m so glad you found the right pace for your transition. You are being so mindful and that is 100% what matters!

    @ Meghan – I feel ya, I’ve been struggling with my online time too. I also use Chrome so I’m gonna check out the options that erosan suggested. Anyway, just keep chipping away at it, which it totally sounds like you are. Be strong! (the kittens will thank you)

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