Go Team! January 24: Giving attention

Word power time again!

Do you have specific exercises, skills, body parts or muscles that you are ‘working on’?

Or have you been giving those things ‘some attention’ instead?

I know I keep bouncing back to the power of our word choices but it has been such a useful tool for me that I hope everyone else can benefit from it, too.

I’ve spent an awful lot of time ‘working on’ things.

Working on my leg strength.

Working on pushups.

Working on my abs.

You know the drill.

(I have also done this in non-fitness parts of my life – working on my schedule, working on organizing the basement and so on.)

Then, a few months ago, I was watching a Yoga with Adriene video and she said something about ‘giving our shoulders some attention.’

When I heard that I actually said ‘Oh!’ aloud.

Giving my body some attention feels way better than working on it.

After all, my body is not a project, it doesn’t need to be worked on.

It does, however, need my attention.

My body thrives when I am responsive to its needs.

Perhaps my body needs some movement, maybe specific movements to strengthen or bring ease to certain areas, and it is time to give some attention to that.

Maybe my body needs rest and I need to give some attention to helping it rest.

Or, I might realize that stress is showing up in my body and it’s time to give some attention to helping it relax.

I realize that this is a small reframing but it could make a huge difference to you (and to your body.)

It could be the thing that helps you do what you need to do to take good care of yourself and to keep building your wellness habits.

I think the change in phrasing will encourage a helpful change in thinking.

After all, would you rather be given some attention or would you rather be worked on?

Whether you are ‘working on’ or ‘giving some attention to’ your body today, here’s a gold star for your efforts.