2012 Breakthrough Year

Updates on My Promise to Breakthrough

At New Years I promised to try MY BEST to breakthrough to new levels on three issues.  These three are issues which have had me stymied for years.  In the past I have had small gains but continual backsliding in these three categories that seem to elude long-term success for me.  Maybe you have issues that have constantly challenged you for a period of years.

Confronting all three at once determined to breakthrough to much greater success has been sometimes painful and often frustrating.  Once or twice I have felt proud and in control.  Then the challenge gets difficult once again.

 Here are my three areas which have presented me decades of challenges, my renewed intentions, and my January progress.

Consistent Exercise

• I’m proud to report that I have joined a gym and have tried to work out six times each week.  I’ve come close to making the goal.  I believe I have only missed about 4 times due to scheduling conflicts that I couldn’t resolve.

 What have I discovered?  It it impossible to overstate how much better I feel.  Everyday as soon as I work out, I feel better all day long.  My flexibility is better.  My sleep patterns have improved.  I even see an improvement in the achilles tendonitis that has plagued me this year.  A side bonus is that I enjoy the socialization at the work out facility.  We talk about books, movies and life challenges.  We laugh and share info as we work out.

Gaining Computer Skills

• I’ve been attending computer coaching webinars.  I have probably attended six to eight this month.  Today was the first time I didn’t want to cry at the end of a webinar.  Not only do I not understand the explanations, I don’t even understand the questions other participants ask.  But I continue to force myself to attend.
• I’m also watching crash course online videos on creating a blog.  I like this format better, because I can pause the videos at will and I can replay them again and again.  The repetition helps me.

What have I learned?  I hate to say that I’m never going to be quick to absorb computer skills, but right now it feels like the truth.  However, I think I have made some amazing progress.  I’m blogging though posting pictures still frustrates me.  I signed up for a facebook page and an author’s page on facebook.  Those pages don’t look great.  I’ve been using these sites sparingly.  I can’t seem to post the jpeg cover of my book on my author’s page.   I think I have to admit that I’m going to have to work harder than most to acquire the computer skills I need.   But technology is the way of the world and I’ll continue to work at this.  Remember my goal is to breakthrough my tendency to avoid technology instruction because I find it so challenging.

 Significant Weight Loss

• In the past my resolutions or other weight loss attempts go along well for a while, but I never even come close to the number of pounds I want and need to lose for health and improved self esteem.
• I am exercising regularly.
• I have not joined a specific weight loss program.  I have done this so many times in the past with a variety of results, but never a permanent solution to the issue.
• I have simply cut way back on my portions.  I actually started this on Dec. 7th, not Jan. 1.  I had great weight loss in the first weeks.  The weight loss is naturally slowing down.  This is when the resolve to breakthrough gets more challenging.

What have I learned?  My past experiences told me that this would be my greatest breakthrough challenge.  I want it to be easier.  It isn’t.  I’m trying to focus on overall progress.  In the past when I ate something I shouldn’t, I wanted to throw in the towel and give up.  One of my problems in this area is that I’m such an ‘all or nothing’ gal.  I can be on a strict diet or bingeing much more easily than I can eat reasonably over an extended period of time.  I have felt my resolve faltering in the past week.  I want to recommit to this long-term breakthrough goal for the month of February.  I want to be as strong in my resolve as I was a few weeks ago.

More updates on my commitments to breakthrough at the end of February.  How are you doing?  Have you had a breakthrough on any long-term challenges?  Send me a comment.