This whole Finding Steady journey started for me when I began looking at where I was. Where I really was. In my life. In my health. In my spirit. In my creativity.
Not where I wanted to be. Not poor me. Not wishing and hoping.
Just taking an honest inventory and asking myself some questions: What power do I have in any of this? Is there anything I can actually do to help myself out of this mess? Are there any changes that would really count?
Because here’s what I’ve realized: I may not have control over everything that’s happening in my life. But I have more power than I thought I did.
And that changes things.
I researched diabetes, insulin resistance, fatty liver, and thyroid cancer. Not only the cause and effect, because I was sure feeling the effects. But I needed to understand how my lifestyle played into all of this.
I started connecting the dots and seeing how it was all related.
Knowledge really is power.
I realized I had missed the signs. My body had been sending me signals for a long time.
OK, so what now? What can I do now? What is in my power?
And that’s when things started to shift.
I looked hard at supplements. There are a lot of ads out there for every remedy under the sun. And all that chatter doesn’t help. Some of it can actually do more harm than good, especially when you’re taking medications. And don’t even get me started on the cost.
I settled on two different kinds of fiber supplements and found ways to easily implement them.
That last part is key. I know me. If I want to make a change stick, I have to make it easier to do than not to do.
OK. Supplements. Check.
But crunchy me would rather get nutrition from real food than from a pill. So I did some more digging and learned about chia seeds, flax seeds, and legumes. And, because I know me, I found ways to easily implement those too.
Next, I learned how the timing of my medications can make a huge difference in how they work. So I made some tweaks there.
And because I know me, I worked out ways to make those changes easier to stick with.
Then I looked at my food.
All the junk I’ve eaten over the years has not done me any favors. Sweets have been what I turned to for comfort. But sadly, they’ve been the worst kind of friend, offering momentary pleasure while betraying me at the same time.
I desperately needed to break that toxic relationship and focus instead on becoming friends with my body. Listening to her signals and giving her the tools she needs to function better.
This is the area that has improved the most. I tweaked my meals for higher nutrition and started learning to see food as fuel.
I found a rhythm that works for me. I eat the same boring foods each day. And I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how full I am and how much less snacking I do.
And because I know me… the key is finding ways to easily implement these changes. Working out what works for me is how I stay intentional.
Having boring beans for breakfast is my thing. You may do something totally different, and that’s OK.
But choosing the beans takes all the guesswork, prep work, and counting off the table.
And I don’t mean choosing each day to have beans for breakfast.
I mean making the choice once and then just doing the thing.
I love it. I don’t have to negotiate with myself every morning. I made the decision already.
Easy peasy.
Yesterday I was reminded just how much this routine does for me. I had an early appointment and had to fast for labs, so breakfast was out of the question. By the time I got home, I was scrambling to figure out what I could eat and when I could take my meds.
It was stressful. And it made me realize that intentional routines aren’t about restricting myself. They’re about making life easier.
Another big thing I’ve worked on is being more active. And, like with my meds, I’ve learned that timing matters here too. Moving after meals can help with blood sugar spikes, so I’ve been experimenting with ten minutes of movement after I eat.
My favorite activity is rebounding. I have a mini trampoline, and because it’s fun and I enjoy it, I actually do it. I’m learning to be more consistent with it, tho.
And because I know me, I keep the trampoline out and easy to jump on throughout the day.
One other tool I’m using is a simple chart taped to my cabinet door. I track things like morning blood sugar, pain level, and activity. This helps me stay intentional without turning one missed day into a missed week.
I’m also extending grace to myself if, for any reason, I miss the mark. Then I start over the next day.
I’m also being intentional about not beating myself up when I don’t get it right. And I’m intentionally enjoying special occasions instead of feeling guilty about them. One meal, one dessert, one celebration isn’t going to undo all the steady choices I’m making. I want to enjoy those moments and then get back to my usual routine.
This is a long game I’m playing, and most days it feels like tortoise speed.
But hey, it’s steady progress.
For me, being intentional means deciding ahead of time what matters and then making it easier for myself to follow through.
I don’t want to spend every day revisiting the same decisions about what I’m going to eat, whether I’m going to move, or whether something is worth the effort.
I’ve got enough going on.
I want to make the choices that matter and then get on with living.
The same goes for all other areas of my life. Deciding what is important and what can be edited takes much of the guesswork out of things.
One year from now, God willing, I will be stronger, steadier, and better equipped to care for the life I’ve been given.
Steady Intentions. Steady Goals.