This is my first time doing the Whole Life Challenge. That means, I just finished the first few miles of a mindfulness marathon. The first week was about finding success on the Challenge during our anniversary trip to Washington, DC. The second week can be summed up as finding a new normal at home before heading to Key West this weekend to celebrate my birthday.  A central question of the Challenge for me thus far is, “How do you live mindfully in a real life filled with anniversaries and birthdays and events and weekends and weekdays?” (I will probably think about that question and write about it in next week’s reflection.)

Here are my primary lessons from Week 2 of the Whole Life Challenge

Exercise. Everyday.

I have enjoyed the increased accountability to exercise the Challenge has provided. I have had a training schedule for years and found it super easy to throw it out the window when I would get a hang nail, or rip a contact lens, or wake up a little cranky. The last two weeks I have kept to my running schedule. In the last two weeks I have downloaded a yoga app and started practicing yoga on the days I do not run. I currently have a 17 minute mile time, but my heart rate hovers around 150 beats/minute, so I say I run though walkers pass me on my route. One goal for the Challenge and beyond is to significantly reduce my mile time as my heart grows stronger through consistent training. I have practiced yoga sporadicly since 2002 (participating in 90 classes in 90 days Bikram yoga challenges and a yoga retreat in Bali), so I am looking to the Challenge to make yoga a consistent choice in my life again. Doing something everyday leaves no room in my brain for asking “Will I?” or “Won’t I?” (get up off my butt and do something).

Giving up, even on fail days, is not an option.

A question from my team captain about WLC fail days made me think. Already, I have had fail days. Days when I don’t make the best choices. Days when I make bad deals with myself. Days when I find myself saying, “Well this thing lasts 8 whole weeks, more wine tonight won’t kill me.” I am committed to becoming more thoughtful about my choices (and ultimately making more positive choices) during this Challenge (and beyond), and the fact that I now notice a few of my choices is progress. Giving up, even on fail days, is not an option.

I miss cheese, pasta, bread, Pepsi Zero, and unlimited wine.

I have already learned my cravings are real and powerful and born of stuff that goes back decades. When I think about my pre-Challenge lifestyle, I would choose these things in huge amounts, to fill gaps, to feel better, to get jump started. Now, I am figuring out how to fill the gaps, feel better, and jump start without relying, depending, giving my power up to these things. I know learning and practicing the principles of substitution and moderation will be key. Brown rice has eased my yearnings for pasta and bread. In the case of Pepsi Zero, black tea with stevia is my new friend and I will never go back to drinking any soda. That clarity feels absolutely empowering. Still working on my connection to wine. I have started to try fancy substitutes like soda water and juices. (Thanks Amy!) We will see how that goes.

Will the WLC help me to establish a positive longterm lifestyle?

That is a central question I carry with me during the Challenge. This is my first Challenge. I don’t know what a post-Challenge life will look like. I feel my mindfulness muscles strengthening, and that will make a longterm difference. I am learning about alternatives to negative choices, and that will make a longterm difference. I am making peace with many of the obstacles that stand in my way of a healthy life, and that will make a longterm difference. I have not started to truly feel better at this point, but I suspect that will happen along the way and inspire me to adopt WLC strategies in my life.

I started taking advantage of WLC resources.

This week I discovered, and got a bit overwhelmed by,  all the resources provided by the WLC. I found myself staring at pages of compliant recipes, watching video after video of healthy best practices and suggestions, and reading posts filled with positivity and wisdom. I know tapping into and drawing strength from the WLC collective consciousness will help me during the Challenge. It already has made me feel connected to the Challenge in ways I would not otherwise be able to connect, and that ultimately supports my Challenge success.