Find Your Smile: FIND YOUR INNER STRENGTH

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020

"Within you is the power to rise above any situation or struggle,

and transform into the brightest, strongest version of you EVER!"

I'm embarrassed to admit that over the last few weeks,

I have found myself spiraling with an unpleasant feeling of negativity.

The ultimate breaking point occurred as I received the news that I tested positive for COVID-19

and that I needed to self-isolate for 14 days.

That particular moment felt like 'THE END OF THE WORLD'

(Ok; maybe that’s a little overly dramatic!).

I just kept thinking to myself:

"Really? Why me? Haven't I endured enough? Could it get any worse?"

After spending multiple hours feeling sorry for myself and wiping tears off of my face,

I knew I needed to dig deep and find my inner strength.

Facing adversity and experiencing stress is inevitable.

However, if we constantly see stress as being negative,

we can experience some very unpleasant effects

physically, cognitively, behaviourally, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.

It is crucial we find ways to deal with stress in a positive manner.

Initially, we should allow ourselves to feel our pain and our raw emotions.

Then, we ought to utilize a variety of coping strategies,

such as exercising, meditating, journaling, doing mindful coloring and practicing yoga

(These are some of my go-tos!).

Next, we must look at adjusting (controlling what we can),

changing our perspective (turning our challenges into opportunities)

and moving forward (it is what it is).

More often than not, if we take these ‘simple’ steps, life becomes more manageable and enjoyable.

There is no doubt that finding our inner strength when we’re going through a rough patch is difficult.

As we experience stressful moments in a face-paced society,

we can sometimes lose ourselves and feel as if we have no control over anything.

The key is to find occasions to slow down, stop, step back, take a break and allow our

mind, body and soul the chance to reset (ideally before a complete meltdown).

"It is worth remembering that the time of greatest gain

in terms of wisdom and inner strength

is often that of greatest difficulty."

Comments

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog