What I’m thinking about…
My word for 2024 is Discipline. It originates from the latin word "disciplina,” meaning ‘teaching, learning, knowledge," and is also related to "discipulus," meaning "pupil, student, follower."[1] It is associated with the concept of learning and education, rather than just punishment or control. Discipline is the strongest form of self-love. When we choose a word for the upcoming year, the process involves reflecting on where we have been and putting intention into where we want to go. Instant gratification can be a dangerous thing when you neglect its boring yet potent companion - delayed gratification. When I look at my 75-year-old dad, who gets up at the crack of dawn, prays for 1.5 hours and then rides his stationary bike for 30 km, I am inspired. He is one of the most disciplined people I know. And when I ask him how he does it - he simply shrugs his shoulders and replies ‘What is so hard about it, you just do it’. It’s as though Phil Knight programmed a chip into his brain. What I have realized about discipline, is it comes down to doing the simple things consistently. It is all about habits. What I realized about myself in 2023, was there were times when I was playing on easy mode. Not sleeping enough, allowing my sweet tooth the get the most out of me, and taking my important relationships for granted. I’m sure we can all use more discipline in our lives but it doesn’t have to be this thing we fight against. We can ease into making small choices that will benefit our 10-year-older selves.
What I’m listening to…
I recently came across Listen to the Music on Youtube. This immediately reminded me of the famous We Are the World, We Are the Children performance from iconic musicians from 1985. This led me down a rabbit hole to uncover the 2010 remake for Haiti produced by Lionel Richie and Quincey Jones. All these works have the same theme in common - bringing people together through music. Music can move us to tears while also bringing us indescribable feelings of love. It is one of the threads that connects our souls. It removes barriers and reminds us we have much more in common than separates us. These should be anthems sung in elementary schools to instill these important values of connection and harmony into our young leaders of tomorrow. Music is powerful because it does not tell you what to do, it allows you to feel - something many of us have lost touch with these days.
Weekly Breathwork Tip…
Mouth taping has been getting more publicity in the last few months. Celebrities like Erling Haaland and Professor Green have discussed it candidly on their social media posts. Mouth taping can be very beneficial for the average healthy adult who breathes through their mouth while they sleep. I have been doing it for about 8 months now and tracking my sleep quality with my Oura ring, it has made a difference by increasing my deep sleep and helping me wake with more energy. I use the Nexcare sensitive paper tape but there are a plethora of specific mouth taping products available on Amazon. But, it's not for everyone - if you have medical contraindications, if you're overweight/obese, have severe sleep apnea or find it scary - then don’t worry about it.
Quote I’m resonating with…
Your future you is depending on your current you to keep the promises you made to yourself yesterday.
-Paul Brooks
Sticking with the theme of discipline, this quote sums it up nicely. So much of our life is focused on instant gratification. Getting back to Intermittent Fasting has helped me curb my sugar intake and has been a practical example of being more disciplined. Making promises to yourself is key to growth. When you start breaking personal promises, you run a slippery slope that leads to taking shortcuts on just about everything. This is when your awareness needs to kick in to remind yourself about delayed gratification. Said another way, when faced with a decision - ask yourself how you feel tomorrow. This is a practical way to help you make a decision that leads to personal growth and development.
Are you looking for an experiential day of self-reflection and rejuvenation? Consider attending our next Rx for Renewal Wellness Day Retreat for Professionals. It is being held on Sunday, February 25th and details can be found HERE.
Action Items
1. When faced with a decision that has you leaning towards instant gratification, ask yourself the question, ‘How will I feel tomorrow if I go ahead with this?’. There are a handful of questions that you can ask yourself that help bring instant awareness and cut through stories your mind tells you. This is one such question.
2. Take a few moments to listen to the tracks mentioned above. A few clicks and minutes later, I am almost certain your state will shift to one towards giving and reciprocity. This is one thing the world needs more of these days. Let’s do our part by taking action on the words you hear from these songs. Donate to a charity (online or in person), do an act of kindness for someone or pick up the phone and call a family member or friend you have not spoken to in a while. In short - spread some love.