As you start to walk on the way, the way appears. Rumi

I recently stumbled upon this concept in one of Sahil Bloom’s newsletters. Have you heard of the The Nova Effect?

Psychologists Richard Wiseman and Daniel Gilbert describe the psychological phenomenon of the decrease in happiness after a bout of good luck or a happy event or experience, as we re-enter “normal” everyday life.

We feel this effect when we take time off for a beach vacation, we experience a burst of happiness, but as the trip winds down, the post-vacation blues set in, returning to our daily schedule of “normal” life.

The holidays clearly cause this same reaction, such anticipation and preparation for a day or three of celebrating, and once the relatives leave, the pies are finished up and the tree comes down, we settle back into our “normal” routines and the magic feels lost.

This is the Nova Effect in action, and it can be a trap, but it is not inevitable! We can escape the Nova Effect by focusing on the experience, not the outcome.

Real satisfaction and contentment are found in the anticipation of the achievement, not the achievement itself. It's all about the journey.

The happiness is not in the having, but in the becoming. Sahil Bloom

Advice to help with the “dark times” in VT: We all know that getting outside can improve our attitudes, outlook, and help relieve stress! Now, a recent study​ confirms this! Participants were asked to take a 90-minute walk out in nature, and the study found notable decreases in negative thoughts, rumination, and worrying, corresponding with the proper regions of the brain.

Nutrition Tip: Chocolate is wonderful. So are pizza, chips, and ice cream. You don’t need to restrict yourself if it’s not around all the time. If you’re craving it, go out and get it, enjoy it and move on. The problem comes from mindlessly consuming it, or consuming it too often.

Most times, when you’re craving something, it’s because you restrict yourself too much, or it’s right in front of you and you’re not actually hungry, you’re tired, stressed or bored.

So, don’t bring it in the house, the office or anywhere it is going to sit around and stare at you.

Nevermind New Year’s Resolutions: Each year Sahil Bloom publishes his Personal Annual Review in The Curiosity Chronicle newsletter. It’s a great way to reflect on the past year and look at the year ahead. I challenge you to complete this review, it will take you much farther than a new year’s resolution that simmers out halfway through the winter.

Training Tip: If you follow me on social media, you’ve noticed my theme lately is small steps adding up to big results. Just Get Started.

Sometimes, “training” on purpose can feel overwhelming and cumbersome and deter you from starting. Maybe you’re walking into the gym and feel lost, maybe you’re not seeing progress from what you have been doing, or maybe the mere act of organized exercise is just not happening.

If you’re feeling this way, my advice to you is to just START. Take ACTION. Give yourself 5 minutes, if you don’t feel like you want to keep going, then you can stop. No questions asked.

Usually once you start, you feel better and you want to keep going. When there is no pressure to have an epic workout, things become fun again. It’s these small steps in consistency, showing up on the hard days, pushing through the monotony, that yield the biggest results. Anyone can take one step at a time. Don’t wait for motivation, there is NO such thing. ACTION creates motivation, not the other way around.

Shameless plug 👉🏼 Are you someone that wanders into the gym not knowing WTF to do!? Did you know that I program specific training for clients at home, or at their gym? A plan that meets their needs and goals, with exercise videos, weekly progressions, and check-ins with me to make sure we’re on the right path! Set a goal and reach it with a coach! Message me here!

Podcasts I’m listening to: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show, Ep. 121 The Science of Attachment, with Thais Gibson. Whether you're looking to better understand your relationship dynamics or improve your mental and emotional health, this episode is packed with actionable insights and tools to help you build more secure, fulfilling connections.

Stay Tuned For:

👉🏼 The January 5-Day Challenge! Keep your eyes peeled on my social media for the announcement and don’t miss out!

👉🏼 Get on my February Nutrition Cohort Waitlist! The Fall Nutrition Cohort was a great success so Message me HERE!

👉🏼 NEW Group Training sessions will be added to our schedule! Two more days/times! Stay tuned!

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