I didn’t plan on it happening it just kind of did.
Serendipitous. I guess.
I hadn’t planned on mentioning it but considering I was at one of my ultimate lows I figured I’d share how I was able to peel off the layers of grief and have heartbreak take a seat in the back of the bus.
My diet. My mental diet.
I mentioned Monday that I had begun a mental diet, same process as a 30-day-juice cleanse, but instead of cleaning out my internal organs with green kale smoothies, I’m in the process of cutting down on crap … Emotional crap that adds at least 50 pounds to the weight I’m already carrying on my shoulders. It’s a mental well-being cleanse.
Now considering I was born and raised in the awesomeness that is the dysfunctional Latino-American family there was probably a lot of excess “stuff” lingering around my love handles, but this mental diet has helped trim away some of that unwanted heaviness.
However this is not like other diets where by day three you’re ready to stab somebody because your body has been starved of essential nutrients. On Day 3 of this 10-Day Mental Challenge I’ve managed to avoid hostile encounters with clueless people who really deserved an ass-kicking, but I thought of my mental diet and I got all Zen on them.
At the end of the day, I felt better than the day before, and in truth that’s what it’s about … being better than the day before. It’s about interrupting old patterns and replacing them with something new. It’s about being able to change my state regardless of the disastrous environment surrounding me and finding a resourceful state of mind–the-Kurt-Russell-playing-Coach-Herb-Brooks-in-the movie-Miracle-state mind-the-Coach-Eric-Taylor-in-the-TV-show-Friday-Night-Lights state of mind.
This was not, and is not easy, especially when you’ve got all kinds of shenanigans of the I Love Lucy-Gilligan’s Island kind. But on Day 3 I’m still managing to stay afloat. And on this Day 3 I’ve learned that it’s not about lying down and ignoring the technical difficulties in your life, but putting yourself in a better mental and emotional state so that you can be prepared and find a solution.
Be prepared to be Coach Herb Brooks or Coach Eric Taylor.
So how do I do it?
Running. Biking. Swimming. Kickboxing. Some kind of physical activity just to get me breathing and feeling differently, to get me in a pumped-up state of mind. And I do it in the morning. And let me just refresh your memory … I hate the morning. I am not a morning person at all, but I do it early so that I can start the day right, because I know there’s gonna be some wrong in it. After getting that Rocky Balboa feeling I start the day and if someone decides to act like a jackass or something bad happens that’s out of my control, I try not to hit the George-Costanza-serenity-now phase immediately. Instead, I ask myself if there’s something I can do at that specific moment to help improve the situation.
So far I haven’t exploded.
But it’s only been Day 3 and I still have Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer. Plus I had a lot of positive support from my WordPress family on Monday (the unexpected Day 1 of the diet) so that definitely helped keep me on track.
I’ll let you know how things pan out in the end. Maybe I’ll lose the rest of the mental-this-is-draining-my-soul weight, or maybe I clear out the ice cream aisle at Vons. It’s still early in the mental challenge, but I’m feeling pretty badass … like a contestant on the Biggest Loser with that chick Jillian Michaels in my corner and my inner coaches Brooks and Taylor always watching my back.
The Wish Factor 
This is how it begins. Fantastic!
One day at a time.
Thanks so much! One day at a time…that’s what I tell myself 🙂
Wishing You the BEST – Good Luck 🙂 One Step At A Time & One Foot In Front Of The Other – You Got This!!!
Duuuuuuuuuuuude. You are always with the positive vibes and it is so welcomed. Thanks so much. You got this! That’s what I tell myself every morning 🙂
Well you’ve got that right, fad diets never work and why would you want to drink Kale juice for a lifetime? Yuk. 🙂 Use the same common sense you used while writing this wonderful post, eat right, exercise, drink water, consume smaller portions of nutritious foods and laugh (which reduces stress because stress can cause weight gain!) Keep up the good work, blessings,
Thanks! This mental diet is working out well and I’m losing all the stress and excess craziness 🙂
Looks like I am really meant to read this today. Been stressed out lately, anxious , irritable, impatient. I used to be able to evade negativity from others whether in words or actions but lately I can’t seem find my chill side. I believe I need to do this mental and emotional challenge thing. I’d been working out a lot as a way to release all that absorbed negative energy and it helps a bit. I still have to work on relaxation techniques and getting good sleep. Everyday is a new battle. Thanks for the tips in this post!
Duuuuuuuuuuuuude so glad that I could help you out. I just finished it and it totally helped me out. Negative energy is so hard to reject if you’re not in the right state of mind and if it keeps coming at you nonstop…it’s bound to sneak its way in. But these sort of mental diet challenges definitely help out. Sending you strength my friend. 🙂
“in truth that’s what it’s about … being better than the day before.” Love that!
The fact that you still have the Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer says it all. A mental victory for sure!
Thanks for the props, I’m just trying 🙂 And yes … Ben & Jerry’s always helps out with a mental victory.
Don’t worry about “Eye on the Prize” right now. Your eyes are on the right now, win moments and they become hours and they become days. I’m proud of you, but that goes without saying.
Duuuuuuuuuuude I LOVE THIS. It made my night, my day, my week, my month! Thanks so much. I’m gonna definitely remember these wise words and thanks for the encouragement … coming from you definitely means a lot 🙂
I mean it. I can read your blog and no matter how stubbornly attached to a bad mood I might be, you produce a smile. You’re good people.
I wish you the best of luck. My partner and I just finished a very stressful period in our lives: a move, getting our visas renewed, and some financial pain–now we are going through our own mental diet–not thinking about stress and trying to enjoy the rest of the summer. I’m sending you positive thoughts.
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude thanks for the luck I definitely needed it that week. I needed something! And this mental diet came just at the right time. Totally helped me out and it will definitely help with a new outlook for the rest of the summer. I take your positive thoughts and send some your way too, because I know the stress of moving and I’m hoping you’re in a less stressful state of mind and that you and your partner are all good now. 🙂
I would never marry unless he passed the Eric Taylor test. Every man should strive to be Coach. My Dish carries the Longhorn Network and while I’m in Heaven knowing I get to see every Texas football game, they carry FNL reruns. Heaven. Bliss. Joy. And if you need a good motivation song, crank up Train’s Brand New Book to 100. I listen to it every morning.
Dude isn’t Eric Taylor the man? Dude…he is definitely the standard. So glad you’re able to watch reruns and capture that Clear Eyes Full Hearts Magic 🙂 And thanks for the pick-me up song. Sorry it took me so long to get back here, but I do totally appreciate you checking in. Always love me some Peace Love and Great Country Music 🙂 even though you’re called something else now 🙂
This post is nothing less than stellar 🙂 Consider yourself followed 😉
Duuuuuuuude so glad you enjoyed it. I love this one too. Anything dealing with Coach Eric Taylor and Herb Brooks has to rock doesn’t it? So glad it pushed you into hitting the follow button. Glad to have you on board. 🙂
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Just read this….’nuff said 🙂