This past year I decided I might like running. I'd like to say this is the first time I've questioned my sanity, but it isn't and won't be the last, but nevertheless, this was this years challenge. I like a good challenge. Something that stretches me and isn't always easy but I know is attainable at some level. So, running it is.

There is a discussion in running circles about which is best, the straight out and back path or the loop. Typically I am a loop person because, quite frankly, if I have the option to turn around and go back easily, I just may do that. The loop ensures I will go all the way around to get back to my starting point. The longer the loop, the better as it means I again, won't give up earlier. See a pattern here? Yeah, it's good to know thyself.

So, on my latest and longest run I was thinking about the brilliance in my loop plan. The loop gave me an opportunity to see roads I haven't explored on my side of town and it also gave me time to say to myself, "what the hell were you thinking?" Now we (my legs and I) have to go all the way around to get back home! My legs often question my brain and the lungs chime in at times too. It is quite the dialogue. So, rather then lament on the mileage to go, I decided to write this blog in my head while on the road.

The looping thought process, or repetitive as it is more commonly known, is one that many people get into on a regular basis, myself included. It is learning to see the loop for what it is and decide on a straight out and back track which often produces a calm feeling and moving forward. The loop process is one that I believe we create to fool ourselves into thinking we are actually doing something. Well, thinking is something but when it isn't tied to some kind of action, it is a time consuming and often confusion proposition.

What do you find yourself looping about? Most of the time it is something you can't do anything about anyway, right? Another persons actions, an experience in the past, or whether or not your favorite show will be extended this season. Not all looping thoughts are majorly life impacting, in fact, most aren't at all except to give the illusion that you are living.

So, which is your preference? To loop or straight out and back? Here are some suggestions to deciding that conundrum:

• First become aware if you are have a loop process. Any thought that is reoccurring and feels limiting or stuck is an unsupported loop and time to untie that puppy! For example: constantly running your bank balance in your mind, or the lack of a balance. Playing old conversations as you remember them over and over. Playing conversations that haven't even happened over and over. The should list: I should do this or I should do that. Looping. 
• Next, be nice to you and acknowledge you are having one and ask if there is anything you can do to help it be supportive. Can you take an action, can you bring in more income, call someone and actually have the conversation or redirect your head to a task that has nothing to do with the looping thought. 
• If you have a challenging time re-directing, you can call me and we will re-pattern the thought process or you could reach out to someone helpful to assist you in shifting. 
• Realize that the looping thought process is a habit and new habits can be formed much like the ones that are there that aren't supportive. 

Your mission this week, should you choose to accept it, is to be aware of when your head wants to do the loop, acknowledge it and step away from the track! Choose one of the suggestions above or utilize your own tools and get on that straight out of the loop path. 

Someone get the car. I'm contemplating another run. I may need a ride back. 

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

Everywhere you look advertisements shout to us that bigger is better. Super size your order, but wait, buy now and you could have another free just pay shipping and handling and don't even get me started on "enhancements".  Whatever happened to accepting what you have and taking steps to improve on it?

Every day I hear someone reference how they are supposed to be somewhere they aren't already. Either in career, relationship or intuitive abilities. I feel like people are rushing forward to be in the future so much, they don't even know they are in the present. If you aren't present, how in the heck are you going to even know what you want? Creating a future means knowing where you are so you can move forward from a solid place. A place of clarity.

It has been my experience that finding that place of clarity can not be rushed. It would be like plowing your way through dinner, stuffing your face and not being able to taste a single thing because you are so focused on getting to the end, the journey doesn't matter. This is why I am suggesting slowing down and enjoying those bite sized pieces. The irony that I am suggesting this does not get by me as I spent most of my adult years thus far, rushing to the next thing, sure that it would all work itself out eventually. I missed so much and while I can see that now, I know I can't do anything about what is back there, but I can do something about where I am and where I am heading.

During my coaching experience, I have learned this patience and the beauty of incremental steps. I am offering a class in November on this very premise. Creating a Plan for 2015 that Rocks! A three part class, bite size pieces, that helps one decide what the heck they want anyway and takes them through the action place. The best part of all is you can do it in your jammies! Not that we would mind if you wore them here, this class is online. Yes, I have heard all of my wonderful phone and skype people!

We didn't learn to walk all at once. We had to develop muscles that helped us step by step. Sometimes we held people's hands, we cruised the furniture or we wobbled until all those synapses fired and we were off and running! I am suggesting we see ourselves as a wonderful soul that is always expanding and will keep learning whether in the physical or non-physical. We will grow and we will be fantastic if we can come to a place of understanding that it isn't about a magic word and poof! It is about savoring each step and recognizing there is no rush to the finish line

I didn't realize it at the time, but last month when I ran a 5k I participated in this premise. There was a gentleman that did his darndest to keep passing me. I would slow to walk, he would run, I would run, he would walk. We did this dance for most of the race. I joked that he was great inspiration for me and he just smiled, or grimaced, it was hard to tell. Not a big talker, I get it! Fast forward to right before the finish line, something in my awareness beyond gasping for oxygen was he needed to come in before me. I really don't feel it was a competition with me, but more with himself. I could respect that and while I had planned to pour it on at the finish to be under forty minutes (running is not necessarily fast.), I felt at that time it wasn't as important as whatever he was going through. Now, I'm not saying I wasn't important, I am simply saying I was present enough to realize it wouldn't hurt me in any way if I didn't hit my time, but I sensed he would not be nice to himself, so I changed my plan and I kept up with him but didn't pass.

Before you think I am a martyr, hear what happened as a result. The first cheering crowd I came to were cows. I kid you not. They were mooing and standing so close to the fence I bet they would have jumped it if they could. That was hysterical to me. I then got a clear view of my friends on the side line as well as my granddaughter yelling to me that she loved me. Come on! You can't beat that with a two second time difference. His need was greater but I believe my reward was just as great. I stayed present and savored the moment. Years ago I would have checked out and been thinking about how bad I felt about not hitting sub40. Years ago I didn't even skip, let alone do a 5k but my thinking would have been messed up enough not to see that, it would see what I thought was the big picture, failure, rather than, holy schmoley, I did a 5k with a cow cheering squad!

This 5k wasn't going to make my running career, nor was it going to validate me as a person, but it was one of those bite sized pieces of amazing glory that had me glad to be alive. I won't promise to hold back in another race but I will promise to be aware of my surroundings and to savor the fact we aren't running from lions, but rather to feed whatever it is in us that needs the bite size piece at that time.

What would you like to accomplish that seems much too big all at once? Cleaning projects often fall into this category. Can you break it up into smaller pieces so you can comfortably chew on it? Small victories add up to large ones and they offer more opportunity to do the happy dance! You can add cows if you want.

If you don't know what you want to focus on, join us for the class in November and get your self closer to that first happy dance.

Inch by inch, row by row, gotta help that garden grow....great song...great premise.

Be nice to you,

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com