Stress Center Peer Support

After listening to the first lesson today and trying to "observe" my negative thought patterns, I noticed that I hold myself back and sort of tell myself that I'm going to burn out on this like I burn out on everything else. Exercise program? Quit it more times that I can tell (but I did restart more times than I can tell - does that count? LOL). Better diet? Quit it and restarted (same scenario). Better lifestyle choices? Same thing. Reading my Bible and/or inspirational books...or ANY books...great start, burned out. Keeping the ironing pile manageable? My husband has been known to call it Mt. Clothesmore now.

So just wondering if anyone else deals with this and if so - how do you stay motivated? Thanks! - Dawn

Hi Dawn,


I'm learning little mountains are the best to go after,small steps lead to large gains.Change small things.I've tried to make large changes in the past and end up depressed.

Sincerely,Sit

Well, I have been a quitter too and I feel like I am a failure but what is failure? not meeting your expectations, not meeting other people expectations......Personally, I am taking it step by step and reading your e-mail makes me feel that is just the way we feel, but is that really that important, is it a life or death issue? naaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Liz

Thank you both for your comments. I totally empathize with you, Sit - the trying BIG things and not sticking to them makes me even more depressed. It's like - I don't want to feel this way, I know I have the power to change it - I try, and I fail. Depressing. I like your suggestion about little mountains. Your word choice was really encouraging to me too because to ME they ARE mountains. Thank you.

Liz - You are so right - it's not life or death. I think that it's my expectations for myself which are the hardest to overcome (or lower), which seems so stupid because I CAN change that. I really hope that this program works - I'm attacking things head on this time and I don't want to quit on the path to improvement...again. Thank you for your encouragement. - Dawn

Hi...Boy can I relate. I find when my goals/thoughts are too general I don't keep them. It's when I break them down into baby steps that I see little successes. Even daily, which granted can take a lot of time, but with those little success come a feeling of accomplishment and motivation.

I too am a constant quitter, but I think it's because of some underlying issue I haven't been able to really pinpoint yet. I have suffered from depression since I was young, I know that, but there are behavioral reasons I haven't been able to identify. It's only week one for me, so I'm hoping to get some clarity by following this program...

Somewhere along the line I'm hoping to discover why I self-sabotage instead of keeping my momentum. I suspect it's that I don't feel good enough about myself to deserve to feel better. I know I will have to face reality, which has created a very uncomfortable week this week, but that when I learn how to get past that discomfort will enable me to 'be happy' in this life.

I kind of rambled, but there's something to be said for baby-steps and small successes. Try not to focus on the number of times you've quit. Reverse it into the success and I think 'we'll' do much better...

Cyn

Oh boy can I relate to this. This is my 6, 7, or 8th time starting thins program!!! I just don't know how to stick to anything.

My hardest thing is the relaxation. I can't seem to find time to do it. My house during the day is never quiet enough. There is always distacting sounds!!! Is that just an excuse?

I struggle with constant quitting as well. I find that I have stopped sharing my endeavors with others because I know they are all thinking that it will never last and "I wonder how long she will stick with this one before quitting?" People always joke with me and say things like "we wonder what crazy adventure you will go on next." I try to laugh it off but I know that the deeper problem is serious and needs to somehow be tackled. Nothing ever sticks, I can't find the motivation and commitment deep inside myself to follow through with so many things. I am embarrassed by it and it has stood in the way of me doing so much in my life. Perhaps I have lost a sense of purpose and meaning, which leads me to give up easily.

I have just started this program and am hoping to find the truth about why I do this. I have only recently started to even link this behavior with my anxiety & depression. In my journal it says my resolution for 2008 is to be more consistent and reliable.... sounds great but will I be able to follow through? I go through periods where I manage to accomplish things and act consistently, but truth be told it takes almost all my focus and energy to do it and it never lasts more than a few months. ...Why does it always have to feel so draining? Does this ever get better and or go away?
Thanks for the post