Happiness

"If you had a million dollars in cash under your mattress, you would check it regularly and take precautions to ensure it is safe. The one possession you have that is more important than money is time. But you don’t do anything to protect it. In fact you willingly give it to thieves. Selfish people, egotistical people, negative people, people who won’t shut up. Treat your time like Fort Knox. Guard it closely and give it only to those who deserve and respect it."

This is probably the number one thing that I struggle with on a daily basis, and it is totally detrimental to my happiness. A few new things that you should know about me as we take on this journey together is that I find such beauty in being compassionate and understanding. I don't know if it's because of the wonderful core values I have been raised with as a result of the amazing foundation my parents set for me. Perhaps a constant reminder from when I was young up until now to encounter and serve everyone you meet with a Christ-like love. I was raised Catholic, which tends to leave some people thinking I'm probably one of those closet prejudiced/preachy/know it all types of Christians who preach more than they take action. And there are many people who I have come into contact with who are like that, so I partially recognize why some people might assume that. As for me and my family, we pride ourselves in being the complete opposite. I hope I can demonstrate clearly enough to all of you that this type of person is NOT who I am. I hope you will realize that even more as our relationship progresses. I love to learn about people. I love learning their ins and outs and finding out what makes them who they are. I love helping them, and being helped. I love to learn FROM people. I always strive to listen to peoples beliefs and opinions with an open mind and an open heart. My education has only further taught me the importance of listening. 

At the same time, if you're like me, who genuinely LOVES to love other people, and show as much compassion and understanding as possible, you might also be struggling to find a balance between how much of yourself you can legitimately give to another person.
 Be compassionate. Be generous. Be understanding. Be thoughtful. But if at any moment, the people  you are doing this for starts to cause more harm for you, even though it might be good for them, it is IMPERATIVE that you take care of yourself. You will NOT be punished for your "selfishness." How many times have you gone out on a whim for someone who really doesn't care about you or your feelings? I advise you to love your enemies, of course, but not so much to the point that its starting to impact your life negatively! If there is one thing I have learned so far on this BeachBody ride it's that surrounding myself with positive and like-minded people has been absolutely and one hundred percent INTEGRAL to my success, and to my happiness. It's amazing to be surrounded, even if only online, by people who are WILLING to learn about you, who are excited for you. Who share in your joy and help you through trying times. 
Maybe you have an ex-partner who you love and care about so much, but who is stealing your time. You think about them day in and day out, wondering if they are finding happiness while you sit in your room wondering what you did to have been let go by them? Chances are, it's not you. And you'll get past it, and you'll love someone different soon, and they'll love you better. Maybe you have an incredibly selfish friend, who wears on you, day in and day out, but you are too scared to tell them how you feel, or to tell them that they are hurting you because you don't want to push them over the edge. It's not your responsibility to save everyone! If your friend is your FRIEND, they will be understanding.

Start using your time wisely. Give it to people who CHALLENGE you, creatively, intellectually, physically. Give it to people who care about you, and people who you KNOW will always be there for you.

This is my issue. I strive so hard to be compassionate towards everyone that I let negative people determine my self-worth and bring me down in the process. Excuse my language but FUCK THAT. That's why I want you to join me. It's OVER. It's time for you to start making positive changes in your life and unfortunately, that may mean cutting certain people out, at least for the time being. It doesn't mean that you can't still love them whole heartedly and wish them success. But it DOES mean that you can stop letting them control your life and your joy. You have come so far and have so much to offer. Why waste all of this potential and give into life's thieves? 

This journey to fitness is becoming less about a fit body and increasingly about a fit spirit. I realized that presenting myself with the daily challenge of pushing myself physically has led me to re-evaluate and want to push myself emotionally and spiritually as well. I am starting a 60 day fitness challenge in exactly one week that I'd love you to join, and we can all become better versions of ourselves. 

Do you have a time thief? Do you have more than one? Think about who they are. Write their names down. Pray for them. And then let them go. It might be hard in the beginning but I think it will be worth it. 

Be courageous enough to let go of the things that don't serve your happiness.

xo M