Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Motivational Song of the Week!

Love this song! Gets me pumped! Enjoy.

In Your Light - Gotye

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Few Tough Nights

My mind wandering over the past nights.
Making my meditations very difficult! 
The past few nights I have found my meditations to be very difficult. I had a really hard time focusing. As I have decided that I prefer to meditate without music or guided meditation, but instead in complete silence, any little nice around the house can catch my attention. For example, my father watching TV. I can hear the television from my bedroom, and it is very difficult to tune it out.

My sister is another distraction, her room is right next to mine, and she is usually getting ready for bed when I am doing my meditation. I can hear her door opening and closing, while she runs from her room to the bathroom.

However, my main distraction; the noise in my own head! 

On Sunday night in particular. I had had a very big weekend and could not stop thinking about it. I also met a guy on Saturday night, and we made plans for Monday to grab coffee. Understandably, I was quite nervous, and couldn't stop going over different scenarios in my head! 

I don't have the most experience in the dating scene. Not because I don't get asked out. I always just say no... I think it is because I am afraid they won't like me once they get to know me, or something silly like that. That's a whole other can of worms! 

I tend to get really nervous when I have to try new things and tend to over think things. A lot. I really do get myself worked up over these things. Even though I know; in the long run it really doesn't matter. And when it comes to this boy; if things don't work out, chances are, I won't ever see him again. He doesn't exactly run in my circle of friends. 

Monday night was quite similar, except I was constantly thinking about our little coffee date. That, by the way, went fine. He even asked if I wanted to do something this coming weekend. But for some reason I still felt the need to obsess. 

Tuesday night, I still couldn't stop obsessing. I kind of think that that is not very healthy? Not sure.

Hopefully, tonight will be different. I think I am more relaxed so that is a plus! 

Song of the Week

I hadn't listened to this song in years, and then it came on my mp3 player while it was on shuffle. Needless to say, I was up dancing around singing all of the lyrics that I, somehow, still know. 

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen 

This song just gets me so pumped! I love it. Hope you do too! 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Motivational/Inspirational Quotes

Just a list of quotes that make me feel good. Other than the first one, they are all fairly short. Enjoy.

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
- H. Jackson Brown

"To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others."
- Albert Camus

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."
- Michael Altshuler

"Never let yesterday use up today."
- Richard H. Nelson 
"A year from now you will wish you had started today."
- Karen Lamb

"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
- Aristotle 

"The surest way to be late is to have plenty of time."
- Leo Kennedy

"They can because they think they can."
- Virgil

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."
-Francis Bacon

"No man is happy who does not think himself so."
- Publilius Syrus


"There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way."
- Christopher Morley

"Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases."
- Jeremy Collier

"To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first."
- William Shakespeare

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will."
- Jawaharal Nehru

"After the game,
the king and the pawn go into the same box."
- Italian Proverb 

"Believe that you have it, and you have it."
- Latin Proverb

"Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer."
- Marcia Wieder

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
- Wayne Gretzky

"Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think."
- La Bruyere

"The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live."
- Elbert Hubbard

"A light heart lives long."
- William Shakespeare

"The only journey is the journey within."
- Rainer Maria Rilke

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow."
- Doug Firebaugh

"Happiness is not a matter of events, it depends upon the tides of the mind."
- Alice Meynell

"Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still."
- Chinese Proverb

"What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself."
- Hecato, Greek philosopher

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."
- Benjamin Franklin

"The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable."
- Seneca

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."
- Albert Einstein

"First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do."
- Epictetus

"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up."
- Paul Valery

"It is idle to dread what you cannot avoid."
- Publius Syrus

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."
- Vince Lombardi

"Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul."
- Democritus

"People with many interests live, not only longest, but happiest. "
- George Matthew Allen

"Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement."
- Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog
"Every artist was first an amateur."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else."
- Yogi Berra 

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. "
- Margaret Lee Runbeck 

"Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark."
- David Ogilvy

"Imagination is the eye of the soul."
- Joseph Joubert

"A smile is the beginning of peace."
- Mother Teresa



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Procrastination

Love this image! Displays procrastination perfectly.
If I could get rid of one bad habit that would solve almost all of my problems; it would be procrastination. There's no debate. It is my biggest issue.

I will do anything to procrastinate. A couple of months ago, I was picking my sister up from work on my way home from school. I had just written an exam.

While we were in the car she looked over at me and said, "You're eyebrows look really good! Did you go get them waxed?"


"No," I responded. "I plucked the crap out of them last night."


"Wow, you will do anything to procrastinate, won't you?"


Just a little example at my procrastination skills. I think I spent almost an hour that night, perfecting my eyebrows. The really pathetic part is that I only needed to study for about an hour for that exam. I already knew most of the materials. So I have come up with a few helpful tips to avoid procrastination!

How to avoid procrastination: 

  1. Choose one thing and focus on it. If you are studying, pick one subject and focus on that for a designated amount of time. 
  2. Set time limit. Tell yourself you are going to focus for an hour, and not a minute more or less. 
  3. Take breaks. After the period of time is passed take a break. You deserve it! 
  4. Find a quiet space. This is mainly for studying or getting work done. Avoid distraction such as the TV, radio, mp3 player, phone, computer, etc. Some people say that they study better with music, but they're only kidding themselves.
  5. Get pumped! Whether you have a big test to study for or you have to hit the gym, get yourself exited. Listen to your favourite pump it up song and do some jumping jacks. Get the blood flowing. You'll find it a lot easier to finish what you need to. 
  6. Do you have a favourite quote? One that really motivates you.  Read it. Don't have one? Check these out.
  7. Plan out a schedule. Get an agenda book, and write it when you need to have things done by. 
  8. Reward yourself! Whether you reward yourself by having a cookie, watching an episode of your favourite show, or buying that shirt that you've been eyeing; it's up to you.
  9. Don't make excuses for yourself. It is so easy to fall into this trap. We all do it, we make excuses for ourselves in order to make us feel better about failing at something. We just need to own up to it. Admit our mistakes and move on. 
  10. Break it down. If you have 50 pages to read, then read them 10 at a time. Every 10th page take a break.  If you're at the gym, keep the breaks short, under a minute. The interval training is good, but you don't want to lower your heart rate for too long.

However, sometimes its not enough to just avoid procrastination. You might want to take a look at the reason you do it. 
  • Perfectionism
  • Fear of failure/success
  • Underdeveloped decision making skills
Personally, I think I suffer from fear of success. I think I'm afraid of the responsibility that will come with succeeding. 

Motivational Song of the Week!

This week's song is by a band called Two Door Cinema Club. really love all of their songs, but this one just makes me feel good, and i find myself bouncing around and doing a little dance everytime I listen to it.

Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club

For some reason this version is slightly different than the one that is on their album. However, the differences are very minimal. 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Day 1 - Meditation Challenge

Meditation helps you become more aware
of your surroundings
I started a Meditation challenge today. In order to be able to properly decide if meditation is truly for me, I have to give it a fair chance. I figure 90 days is a perfect amount of time to fall in love with it, or for it to grow to be my enemy - unlikely.

I started with a simple 10 minutes today, I listened to a guided meditation by Daniel Goleman. Specifically, his mindfulness meditation. It was supposed to be 14 minutes, but my back was starting to really hurt, so I had to cut it short. During meditation you are supposed to sit up straight, and my posture is horrible. I have been working on it though, I wonder how long does it take to correct posture?

Well that gives me a great idea for a new post! exercises to improve posture. I have been given some good ones from my physiotherapist.

Back to the point! I felt good during my meditation, I found that 10 minutes wasn't too hard to sit through. I think that it is a great start. I look forward to tomorrows meditation.

Short-Term Goal: Be able to meditate for 15-20 minutes by the end of June.

Long-Term Goal: Meditate twice daily, for a total of 1 hour and 15minutes by Christmas. (Assuming I fall in love with meditation and decide to stick with it past the 90 days)

I'm not sure if my long-term goal is realistic or not. I will be able to better judge the time frame when I have a little more experience. I encourage you to try meditation if you haven't. Set goals for yourself, and write them down so you don't forget them.

If you are interested, join me in the 90 challenge!

Best of luck!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Meditation


As I have been having trouble sleeping, have been dealing with some depression, and I seem to be exhausted all the time, I have decided to try is meditation. I have heard so many good things about meditation, and I truly believe it will help me to reach my goal to life a better healthier happier life.

I will start by doing it every day for 10 minutes working my way up to 30 minutes.

I am wondering about others' experience is with meditation though. I would love to hear your advice.

Here are a few of my questions:
  • Is it best done at night before bed? Or in the morning after waking up? 
  • Should you not do it on a full stomach? Or does that even make a difference?
  • Should I meditate to soft soothing music or maybe some ocean sounds, a guided meditation or nothing at all? Also, if you do have any specific music suggestions I'd love to hear them!
  • Do you sit on the floor cross legged or on a chair? What about a balance ball?
What has worked best for you? I know that you are supposed to do whatever works best for you, but I would really like to hear what has and hasn't worked for others as well.

Motivational Song of the Week!


I have decided to post the song that is motivating me the most every week. It might be a song that gets me up moving and makes me want to dance! Or, it might be a song that just lifts my spirits and makes me feel good.
This weeks song just makes me feel good. So here it is:

Carry On by Fun

Hope you liked it! 
It will be different every week. The song may be old or new; it could be an upbeat or more mellow song. Depends on my mood and what I'm into at that moment. 

A Little Background

Hi! My name is Tess.

About a year and a half ago I had lost a bunch of weight. And over the past 6 months, I have managed to put it back on. I have been really struggling. I have trouble sleeping at night, I have fought some episodes of depression - usually lasting 1-3 weeks. And as I'm sure you have guessed I have had a lot of trouble with my nutrition and fitness/exercise regimen. All in all I am feeling pretty horrible.

I had started going to BCIT last fall and I was doing quite well, I was fighting through my anxiety and depression and really thought I was going to succeed. I don't really know what happened, but I had 6 weeks left in the year and I just stopped going. I cried on the phone to my best friend for a solid hour after I had missed that first week. I told her I couldn't go back I had missed too much. (Which if I had just gone back that second week I could have caught up). I am so embarrassed and ashamed about it only my family and closest friends know about it. I haven't told anyone else. For some reason, I always seem to sabotage myself when I am doing well. This needs to stop now.

The way I see it: I have hit rock bottom and there's no where to go but up. I have decided to put everything that has happened over the past couple of years behind me and start anew.

This is why I am starting a new blog! I want to completely change my life. And not for only a year or two; for good!

I want this blog to motivate me to make a better life for myself and hopefully others too! I want to be happy with myself. And rather than wait for everything to just happen for me (which I feel like I have been doing lately) I am going to put the hard effort in and make the change.

This is my 180 project.