• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Oct 9, 2017
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Step 9: Feeling Unprepared? Show Up Anyway

show up anyway when the going gets tough

At different times in our lives, we each encounter situations for which we feel unprepared.

Maybe it’s a difficult family situation with no end in sight, a work project that grows bigger each day, or simply a personal goal that seems out of reach. Each step hasn’t gone as planned. Progress seems elusive. And you feel ill-equipped to finish.

If you gave in to your stinkin’ thinkin’, you might give up. Play it small. Make excuses. Hide in the corner.

What to do?

Show up anyway.

A couple of weeks ago, I was kicking myself. In early January, I committed to running a half marathon in October. A destination race, involving an airplane ticket, friends’ hospitality, and several days away from home. My goal of running in a two new states in 2017 was so important in January that I even put a specific one on my 2017 Vision Board.

And back in January, I intended to train for it properly.

Eight days before the event, I found myself completing my longest training run – 8 miles – a far cry short of 13.1.

But that was progress. The week before, after finding it difficult to run four miles without stopping to walk, I briefly considered cancelling the trip.  I was beating myself up inside: What had I been thinking in January? Why did I commit so far ahead? Why didn’t I think about the obstacles I might face in training? On and on.

I thought of a few excuses, then a few more. But then I remembered something. I control my thoughts – not the other way around. My thoughts don’t control me.

I knew I had to stop my stinkin’ thinkin’. So I decided that if I had to walk most of the 13.1 miles in order to finish, then so be it.

I decided to show up anyway.

What if we don’t show up?

If I had cancelled, I would’ve missed spending time with friends that I don’t get to see in person very often. I would have missed seeing up close a city in which I’ve wanted to spend more time. And I would’ve been disappointed in myself for giving up so easily.

So I adjusted my expectations. And on race day, I relied on my knowledge of what worked in the past. As I followed my pre-race routine the morning of, I tried not to grow anxious. As I sipped coffee and filled up my shaker bottle with water and my sports drink, a small voice in my head provided reassurance.

You have everything that you need.

And then a well-timed text arrived to encourage me, as two friends ushered me to the start line and then cheered and supported me along the route.

show up anyway, and enlist friends to support you

So what could happen if you took a long view of your situation? Sometimes, looking at your difficulty from 30,000 feet, instead of 3 feet away, helps create clarity. What if you relied on your support team to help get you through?

When you persevere, how will you feel when you meet your goal?

Show up.

Thanks for joining me for Step 9 in the “31 Steps to a Healthier You” series, part of #Write31Days 2017. You can read what the series is all about here and catch up on past posts. If you don’t want to miss a thing, subscribe to get each one in your inbox.

31 steps to a healthier you

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « Step 8: Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank
Next Post: Get Enough Sleep for a Healthier You »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. charlotte tippett says

    October 9, 2017 at 9:53 pm

    Very true.I have to think a lot about mind over matter and it works.

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Amy Hoogervorst is a ReCODE 2.0 Certified Health Coach. Badge is blue and green lettering primarily on a white background

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Alzheimer's is a women's health issue. 🧠 Of ev Alzheimer's is a women's health issue.

🧠 Of every three people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s, two are women.

🧠 Even factoring in women’s longer lifespans, they’re twice as likely as men to develop the disease.

🧠 Lifestyle changes such as improved sleep and nutrition, increased exercise and mental stimulation, and decreased stress and toxins, can help reduce a woman's risk of dementia.

If all of that seems overwhelming, focus on just one piece of the puzzle. What's one tiny step you can take to improve your cognition?

Read more here: https://amyhoogervorst.com/women-and-alzheimers/

#worldalzheimersday #walkwalkwalk #freshfood #bettersleep #stressless #useyourmind #creativity #tinyhabits #onestepatatime #brainhealth #integrativehealthcoach #graceandspaceforahealthieryou 

World Alzheimer's Day -
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as y "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." - Confucius

Groton (NY) Labor Day 5k ✔️
Running state #21 (me) and #27 (DH)

#goatyourownpace #keepmoving #5k #walk #run #justdoit #runyourownrace #physicalactivity # #movement #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach
What promise to yourself will you keep today? • What promise to yourself will you keep today?

•

#showupforyourself #saturdaymood #nurture #rest #sleep #nutrition #exercise #connection #creativity #takegoodcareofyourself #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #wellbeing
Grace & Space (for a healthier you) means ... • Grace & Space (for a healthier you) means ...

• None of us is perfect, and we don't have to be, even when we are working toward something important to us. 💙
• We all need safe spaces in our lives - people and environments - in order to grow and thrive. 🩵
• I solved yesterday's Wordle in two guesses. 😁

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou became my tagline when I started my health and well-being coach practice in 2017. You'll see it on my website and every time I post on IG.

It's a principle I try to live by professionally, as I aim to offer grace and space to my coaching clients and mentees, as well as those who attend my classes and retreats. And also personally, in the day to day of my life - including to myself.

What would it mean to give yourself some grace and space today?

#tagline #healthcoach #grace #space #values #compassion #intention #attention #wordle #wordgames #takegoodcareofyourself
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.