Wellness looks different for everybody. One size does not fit all. What has worked for me in the past may not be suitable for you, or may be unsustainable given your current situation. But I’ve learned more through my failed attempts at what worked for others than I have through my personal successes.
When you realize that there is no standard for wellness – or fitness – outside of the ones you self impose, you can begin to shape a routine that is most compatible with you. Maybe meditation does not relax your brain in the same way you’ve been told it does for others. Or perhaps a particular diet does not yield the expected results – because your expectations are flawed when influenced by what “others” have been able to do.
I’m not suggesting avoiding the advice of others who have traveled this path before you. Simply understand that not replicating another’s path to achieving a goal is not an indication of failure. It’s a step in the right direction towards the inevitability of – your – success in wellness. And I use the word inevitability without equivocation. The measurement of your success is found in consistently taking steps, however small, toward your goal. What do small steps look like – read on.
- The process being the goal.
- Growth, no matter how small, being the goal.
- Acceptance being the goal.
Failed attempts at a particular process or practice that do not feel correct for you are not failures. It’s the beginning – or continuation – of understanding what you want in order to grow.
Think about it this way. Does every plant require the same amount of water and sun? The answer is a firm no; whether you’re talking about frequency, quantity, or source of sustenance. All plants photosynthesize, though some obtain extra protein from bugs and insects for supplemental nitrogen. (This allows them to grow in otherwise uninhabitable soil conditions like bogs and marshes. That isn’t part of the analogy; I just thought it was cool, and you may want to know it too.) The point being, why would we expect humans to fit into standardized boxes of wellness? Like plants, what we require to grow sustainably varies wildly.
So take your health and wellness out of whatever box you find yourself in. Free yourself of expectations and allow your process to evolve into a routine that makes you feel the joy of opening your eyes in the morning – and not every morning. We all get to be grumpy and take a moment to honor that we’ve had a hard day and maybe don’t want to open our eyes – but when you do it anyway, you’ve started your path to wellness for that day, without failure.
I was going to continue from here, but after rereading what I have written, I now feel this is a natural point to let you fully process my musings. For those who will continue reading my work here, may this serve as a reminder that you should read any further entry understanding that I am not suggesting what I have done WILL yield the same results for you. I fully endorse and recommend that you explore various methods on your journey to wellness. I am not a health expert nor a health professional. But I will unabashedly share my process, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And hopefully, some small part will resonate with you, and you will find a measure of peace that aids your process.
Pura Vida (Pure Life)
Jay Macy-Moore
