Sunday, September 4, 2011

How I'm Doing on My 3 Big Things

No More Fear


A few weeks ago I wrote about three big things that I'd like to work on in my life.  Because it's one thing to say you're working on something and quite another to actually do just that, I want to fill you in on how it's been going.  As I said in the original post, these are things that I feel will help me grow personally, in my recovery from disordered eating, and as a wife and soon-to-be mama.

Daily Art-Making.  Although my challenge to myself to create art more regularly was the most fun of the three big things, it has been the area in which I've made the least progress.  Perhaps the reason behind this may be that now I'm busier with my other two challenges, or just busy in general (and it's certainly felt that way!).  However, I have also noticed that with art-making I experience a surge in which I produce a number of pieces, followed by a restful lull.  I think that this may in fact be a healthy cycle, so I'm not too unhappy with it.  Plus, in the past three weeks I've produced three finished pieces (one of which is adorning this post), three works-in-progress (one of which I shared yesterday!), created two graphics, and opened my Etsy art shop, Epiphany Art Studio (which was a big fear-busting step for me!).  So all around I think that I can say that I am making progress in this area, even though perhaps that progress does not look how I imagined it might.

Clean House Regularly.  I've surprised myself in this area -- because I have made progress!  I didn't think that I would because, quite frankly, house cleaning is just no fun.  However, since posting my goals I have made regular small cleaning efforts spread throughout the week, meaning that it is easier to continue to motivate myself to do so.  I have even made progress on washing the dishes every night (although right now there is what will soon be a dishwasher load accumulating on our counters).  I have not gotten where I want to be as a home-tender, but I'm definitely on my way.

Eat Without Entertainment.  This is the area in which I have made the most progress.  I'll say that again -- I've made the most progress here.  What, the food challenge is the one on which the former disordered eater is most successful?  I know, I'm surprised, too.  But the fact remains is that I'm no longer eating dinner in front of the television.  It is, in a word, amazing.  As I mentioned in my initial posting of these goals, shifting this food behavior meant that I'd be changing what had been a habit for seventeen years.  Seventeen years.  That's a long time.  But I've done it -- I've changed it!

It wasn't easy.  At first, I was extremely resistant and made no changes.  Then I began to make tiny changes -- eating without entertainment once a week, then shifting to eating while reading instead of watching the television.  And then, so rapidly that I can't even remember exactly how the shift occurred, I didn't need the television anymore.  The speed that what I thought were my needs changed makes me think that God had a big hand in it.  Regardless, I am so grateful to be free from that last stronghold of disordered eating.  Interestingly, the shift away from eating with entertainment has modified my food intake slightly, which means more chances to practice listening to my body.

Have you been working on your big things?  How has it been going?  I hope you are as pleasantly surprised as I am!

Don't forget to enter my art giveaway!

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!" ~ Proverbs 3:5


7 comments:

  1. I was thinking the other day how awesome it was that you were following through on the art goal. Really. It was random (I was vaccuuming at the time).
    And now I am also inspired by your no distractions whilst eating.
    I want my "AHA" moment. I'm still working on it.

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  2. Wow! I'm so glad for you on the progress with #3! That is SOOO hard, but important. To be able to tune into our bodies, minds, spirits when we nourish. I'm inspired by you Beth. Thanks for sharing your goodness...keep sharing please.

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  3. Great artwork, Beth - both the message and the art itself.

    Yay for progress on your three big things! You're right about #1: Creativity does have an ebb and flow, and it's sometimes best to go with it instead of trying to force inspiration.

    As for #s 2 and 3, both are challenging, so congratulations on the forward momentum. :)

    Revisiting my comment on your original post, I can report that I'm making my bed most days; not weighing in even once a week (using my clothes fit rather than the scale to monitor my weight); not off the TV habit yet (tried, but fell to the siren call of SyFy); and still managing to be productive in spite of the TV. Not where I want to be yet, but continuing to press forward...

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  4. Woohoo sounds like you're doing great, Traci! And don't feel guilty about a bit of TV (especially if you're being productive regardless) -- sometimes a little veg out time is a good thing. But if you're trying to go TV-free -- well, that's amazing, too, and I bet you'll get there before long!

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  5. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Beth. :) I suspect my only real success at going TV free will be to go cable free. And since I'm living with cable subscribers, I don't see that happening until the day I move back out... Meanwhile, I'll keep crocheting while I watch.

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  6. Lol that's one way to deal with it! I sometimes draw while I watch. We actually don't get any TV service -- cable or public access. We just watch DVDs, and we watch waaaay less than when I used to live with cable subscribers. I feel your pain! :)

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"I am glad you are here with me."
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King