How do you show yourself some tough love when needed?

Have you ever had to force yourself to do something you knew was for your own good? How do you be that tough love parent for yourself?

Exercising is one of the “for my own good” things I have to force myself to do. Since I live on a farm, I get exercise when I bale hay, or garden, or trim bushes, or go for a walk, but that’s not the same as a strength-training cardio workout.  

In fact, before I hired a fabulously fun personal fitness trainer, I didn’t do it. I had lots of intentions. Lots of I shoulds, but no real action. Fifteen extra pounds later and clothes that didn’t fit, got me to hire that fabulous trainer. No more excuses. I see the trainer twice a week, but she can’t make me exercise at home. That’s on me.

It’s been about 5 weeks and I’ve lost 4 pounds and gained muscle strength. You’d think that would be enough incentive to loooove exercise, but it’s not. I still hate it before I do it. At least when I’m baling hay, I feel like I’m exercising and getting something accomplished.

So, here’s what I do to parent myself when I know I need to exercise and lose weight because it’s good for me. In the morning when I get up, I immediately put on my gym clothes. I tell the rebellious child within, “No! You’re not getting out of this today!”

Then I choose a podcast of something I’m interested in that’s at least 45-minutes long, (a podcast I would’ve sat down to watch anyway) and begin my routine. My bribe, er I mean motivation is that I only have to exercise until the podcast is finished. When it’s over with, I feel like a million bucks and I’ve learned something new.

This way of exercising resonates with me, because it feels like I’ve accomplished something besides forcing myself to do something I don’t want to do. Weird, I know, but it works for me.

What do you know you need to do because it’s good for you, but you can’t make yourself do it? Maybe it’s time to hire someone who can help you stay accountable? Maybe it’s time for a little tough love?

And as always, I’m available for private or gallery sessions if you need deeper understanding, support, or guidance through energy work or intuitive life coaching.

If you’d like to learn a couple powerful techniques for having more energy, watch my free video Take Back Your Energy.

If you’d like to learn how to help bring more love to yourself, your families, your neighborhoods, cities, and the world, watch this video on a simple way to change fear energy to Love by using our waterways.