My husband and I began a workout routine (Beach Body on Demand) if you must know… and it felt pretty good… when it was over. He’s great at keeping up with these kinds of things, deciding he’s going to do it and then does, but I’m not. I get into it until ultimately, my motivation is gone and I quit.

I totally get it, if I eat clean and exercise regularly, my clothes will begin to fit better and I will feel good, I GET IT. So what’s the problem Debbie?

…The Value… What is the value?

I value my time in the morning.

Before we decided to get up at 5:00 in the morning, to work out, I had already been getting up at that time. Getting up to prepare the coffee, feed the cats, meditate on the couch and watch a motivational video. It’s how I get myself ready for my day and I enjoy it. Did the workouts for two weeks get me ready for my day? Yes, they absolutely did. However, I had to give something up for that time spent, and that did . not . feel . good.

I found MORE value in my initial routine than the new workout routine. But this doesn’t mean I can’t have both. I need to find another time in my day, to create a new routine that includes exercise. Will that still mean compromise with what I do right now? Of course, but if that means working out for 30 minutes in the evening, instead of watching Jeopardy, then I can sacrifice my time with Alex T. for the value of my health!

‘But Debbie’, you might be thinking…, doesn’t any of this require practice and discipline? And I would say YES! That’s exactly what it requires. Anything we do is out of habit/practice/discipline. Whether it’s healthy or not, our actions are based on a practiced routine. So, the question I’ve been asking myself… is it a value to me, or not…

Sometimes what we value, may not serve us as well as we would like. As a woman, you might have a peer who always has her hair done a certain way or her nails always painted etc, and you think to yourself, “I wish I had time to do my hair like that or the money to get my nails done.” I would ask you, about what you are doing right now to get yourself ready in the morning, and even if you can’t afford a manicure, what are you spending your money on for entertainment or “extras” in your budget? You might say, “I get up at such and such time pull my hair back, eat breakfast and go to work.” If I asked you if you would be willing to get up earlier to have time to do your hair and you said, no, my response might be that you value the ease of pulling your hair back, MORE than the feeling of having your hair “done” every day. If I suggested buying a fingernail file and a new nail polish, would that be something you might try? Maybe you say yes and try that first before making an appointment at the salon, or maybe you would rather spend your money on something else.

As a man you may have the same goals (with your hair and nails…) or it may be something else, the point is you are deciding for yourself what VALUE you put on your actions, time, relationships, or anything else.

There’s nothing wrong with any answer, it’s merely a way to realize where your values are right now and what you would have to do differently, as you work on practicing new ones. If you want to make new choices, because you want to change your practice and because it means that much to you, then do it. The only question you need to ask yourself… Is it worth it?

What do you value?