Yesterday's Choices Equal Today's Rewards (or Disappointments)

Choices have consequences.

What choices did you make yesterday? What consequences are playing out today?

Ask yourself did those choices cost you something or did those choices serve you?

It is not about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.  Think about your choices, think about their consequences then simply make X choice accepting that it will have Y consequence. It is about costs and benefits: did your choice cost you or benefit you?

I tell myself  “Make whatever choice you like. You are a grown up. You are autonomous. But make it a MINDFUL choice. What is the cost or benefit of this choice? “

In the past when stressed, upset or run down I would have made the choice – not a mindful choice -  to eat a couple of blocks of chocolate and a bag of chips. The consequence was further weight gain and only greater feelings of stress coupled with disappointment in myself and guilt. Yay. Not.

A viscious cycle ensued. A downward spiral.

Yesterday I chose to exercise when I felt like veging out in front of the television or computer. My body rewarded me by feeling energetic. My brain rewarded me with clearer thinking.

Yesterday, instead of reading a magazine,  I chose to cook a heap of healthy meals in advance for us and for my extended family who have a lot to deal with right now. Today I am rewarded by not having to cook for us and by knowing I have eased the burden a little on my loved ones. Ditto for the rest of the week!

Yesterday… and the day before that…. and the day before that… and so on… I made the hard choices every time in order to be who I am today. It has become an upward spiral. The opposite of a viscious cycle: a virtuous cycle.  (Not tooooo virtuous, don’t get me wrong!! A girl’s gotta has some champagne or scotch fuelled fun sometimes & indulge in other pleasures… just not all the time….like I once did!)

I have realised that because I made the hard choices and put in the hard work over the last few days, last night I was able to enjoy a well earnt early night and a luxurious Sunday sleep in followed by a long breakfast at our favourite cafe with my man. No guilt, no ‘shoulda-coulda-woulda’ hanging over my head. Just enjoyment. Living in the moment. Bliss.

If I had chosen to vege in front of the television or sit slack-jawed in front of the computer (neither option really ever benefits me in any way!) then I wouldn’t have had the enjoyment of the last 24 hours or be set up for a successful week ahead, a week which promises to be full on.

Make the hard choice today, tomorrow you will be thankful that you did. I promise!

It is your choice – what’s it going to be: A viscious cycle or a (near) virtuous cycle? A downward spiral or an upward spiral?

xx Ange

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