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ikigai's Blog
An open THANK YOU note to this community
Hey GANG!! Now that is June/2012, I just realized that I have been part of this community for 4 YEARS!!! By the way, I was never known for sticking with anything. Heck! I never was able to finish successfully a full 12 week BFL! But here I am 4 YEARS of constant and persistent participation and I owe a big part for my success in this journey to the Transformation principles (and Roadmap in Life) that Bill Philips set for us and the love...The Power of Helping Others
As I finish the 2011 HHC and take a pause to start a new stage in my Transformation journey, this is the perfect time to reflect on the time lived and actions taken over the past weeks. I have mentioned on various posts or blogs, that I'm at a place in my journey where I focus less on goals related to weight or pants' sizes, because at 44 years old, I have the Gift to be in the best physical condition that I have been in my entire Life!! I ha...It's Not For the Rest of My Life - It's Just For TODAY!
I want to share a portion of a letter that I sent via e-mail to a friend from Tcom. My friend was expressing her concern that she needed to workout, take care of herself and get in the mindset that she has to do it for the "rest of her life." At some point in her life she used to workout consistently, but she was now having a hard time staying motivated and staying on track. Having to adhere to a regimen of exercise or nutriti...The End of My 2011 Summer Challenge – Great Progress
I haven't followed the perfect straight line, but even though I had pretty much stayed on the right track with nutrition and exercise over the past year, I felt the progress had been painfully slow and at times not even noticeable. Since I went to Denver last year (October 2010), I had been pretty much wearing the same pants size. My favorite size 6 black jeans, fit snug or a bit tighter depending on my progress or if I gained a little bit bit o...GOING to 2011 Denver Transformation Conference!!!
2011 Denver Transformation Conference!!! Hey Guys! Volunteer Champions of the Transformation community are putting this event together. This is a great opportunity to get together, exchange super positive energy, meet the people that have been cheering you on or you have cheered for along, in your journey! It has the blessing of Bill Phillips, although due to obvious circumstances, his attendance is unknown at this point. Here is additiona...Summer 2011 – 2nd mini Challenge (The Base & Summit)
The Base – Where Am I? I am in a very good place physically, emotionally and spiritually, but I want to continue improving. I want to improve my current physical conditioning and reach more definition by loosing unwanted fat and increasing strength. I don't want to measure my progress by a number on a scale. That has proven to be very demoralizing in the past. In my case, the positive changes in the scale are very sloooooow and sometim...Step 1: Summer 2011 – mini Challenge (The Base & Summit)
The Base – Where Am I? I am in a very good place physically, emotionally and spiritually, but I want to continue improving. I want to improve my current physical conditioning and reach more definition by loosing unwanted fat and increasing strength. I don't want to measure my progress by a number on a scale. That has proven to be very demoralizing in the past. In my case, the positive changes in the scale are very sloooooow and someti...Step #18: Reflection & Awareness
The three most profound things I've learned about myself through this Transformation process are: 1) Learning from Not Reaching my Goals. Transformation for me is now a Life long journey that requires action, constant awareness, adjustments and more action. Just because at some point in the process I reached a space where I finally feel comfortable in my own body, I feel strong and healthy, it does not mean that I can rest on my laurels. ...Assignment #17 Making A Difference
Three specific changes that I can make in my life that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of others are: I will continue transforming and improving my physical, emotional and spiritual health, so I can serve as example to others and I can be ready to help others. I will do research and expand my knowledge about the biology of perception and beliefs (psychosomatic medicine), so I can apply concepts that will help me improve and ...Step 16: Heart of Gratitude
A specific time of the day that I consistently enjoy a little time to tune into gratitude: GRATITUDE for me is one of the most important feelings and states of mind, so I keep it close to heart every day. Gratitude connects my Heart, Body and Soul and help them point in the same direction. Gratitude is my strongest connection to a Power Way Beyond Myself. In my opinion, Gratitude is one of the best forms of prayer. Gratitude “right s...Step 15: Mind and Meditation
I am learning that proper planning of time helps me overcome procrastination so I’m scheduling my meditation practice these days and times: Every night after going to bed, I will spend 15 minutes practicing the Concentrative Meditation or Contemplation as suggested in this chapter. Another moment when I can have my meditation practice is during meditation/gratitude walk when I walk my doggy in the mornings in the park. It is very relaxing....Step 14: Addictive Habits
After careful consideration, I've become aware that my most unhealthy habit I'll like to be free is: I have been moving forward in my recovery and sobriety path a little over 2 ½ years. This has given me a greater sense of awareness. For me Life in Recovery requires constant attention and diligent work. I might not do it perfect all the time, but I try to not stray away from AA or Transformation; my communities of support and healing. I t...Brain with faulty wiring
My friends, I am convinced that my brain is wired wrong. Unfortunately years of alcohol abuse and addictive actions molded it into something that is far from what a person with a good moral compass should have. My brain tells me that it is such a great idea to ______ , fill in the blank with: “Drink alcohol because I deserve it”; “Not exercise because I am tired”; “Eat more pieces of bread and chips because I am st...Step 13: What's So Funny?
Based on scientific evidence presented in this chapter, three specific health benefits of laughter which I am now holding the intention to personally enjoy are: Enjoy simple things and see the lighter side of situations which will help lower unnecessary levels of stress Improve my health and strengthen my immune system Have a healthier more vibrant and positive energy to share with those around me. Three moments when I completely lost myself i...Step 12: Making It Right
As mentioned in previous step/assignments, I have been living in sobriety and following a 12 step program of recovery for more than 2 ½ years. As part of that step program, I have made a list of people I have harmed or affected with my actions and I have been making amends with them, as soon as it was possible. Unfortunately my list was quite extensive, as I did a lot of stupid or insane things while I was drinking. Some of the peopl...The Power of Sharing with the Community
The Transformation program through the Steps/assignments, offers incredible tools for self discovery and internal growth. But those tools get to a much higher dimension, when shared with a supportive and empowering group of people. I have had the privilege and gift to be part of this community for almost 3 years and although my path has not been a straight and perfect line, the power of the community has helped me stay on track and maintain Tra...Step 11: Concealments
Specific Concealment I have been living in sobriety and following a 12 step program of recovery for the past 2 1/2 years. This has giving me the blessing and opportunity to reveal and share with the AA community and specifically with my sponsor, facts about my life and my actions. I know that keeping secrets and resentments inside is a sure way to end up in a wrong state of mind and soul and eventually falling under the grips of alcohol again. ...Step 10: The Positive Mindset
Empowering words and phrases that I will utilize in my daily communication with others and myself include: GRATEFUL, Loving, Connected, Balanced, Energized, Assertive, Positive, Healthy, Calm, Strong, Vibrant, Sharing, Compassionate, Caring, Supportive, Empowering!!!!! A description of the future self I envision is: I am ENERGIZED, Vibrant, And Healthy. I love myself and I LOVE LIFE I have a very strong and lean body. My body looks very athl...Step 9: Accepting Responsibility
Three specific excuses that I've used multiple times to avoid taking responsibility for my own actions are: 1) I feel sleepy, I want to stay in bed longer 2) I have worked hard enough so far, even though it is not my free meal, I “deserve” or I am “entitled” to cut myself some slack and eat those (fill in the blank with: crackers, bread, other refined carbohydrates) 3) I am doing something now, I will get to that (whic...Step 8: The Big Forgive
After some introspection, these are three incidences and people which I’ve identified I hold some resentment towards: I have been blessed with the fact that to this day, nobody has caused any traumatic experience to me or my loved ones. At this particular time in my Life, I do not have a specific hurtful incident “Big Hurt” or resentment that I need to release. This does not mean that I have been living all in complete is...
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