Your Happy Place by Onica Sinclair

Along my journey, many people have commented that my “happy place” must be the gym since it appears I’m always there.  I’ll admit, I do really love my gym, Aspen Athletic Club, but in reality, I only spend about an hour and a half there 5 or 6 days a week.  My response is, “My happy place is wherever I’m at.”  That may sound odd, but your happy place should be really be found within.  When you feel good physically, which Performance Inspired helps me do, it also regenerated and rejuvenates me to feel good mentally.  It may just be the workout endorphins talking, but when you look yourself in the mirror at the end of a good workout, that makes you feel better and happy on more than just a physical level.

Something that I have started practicing, along with continuing my workout regimen, is to create a happy place self-care journal.  Every night, I think of a few things, at least 5, that I did that day that brought pleasure to my life.  I usually like to select things that are free because, honestly, they provide the most satisfaction.  I’m not going to lie, a good workout is usually on my list, but since starting the journal I’ve noticed that recognizing other things brings a second whirlwind of satisfaction and makes me aware of them…so I keep doing them.

Many of my self-care moments are found at the core of my life, with my family and at home.  Whether it be something that lasted one minute or thirty, they have all had an impact on making me a happier and better person for all to enjoy being around.  For example, some of the family moments that I have journaled is singing with my daughter in our truck at the top of our lungs, not caring who in the car next to us is watching.  Our go-to lately has been Weezer’s cover of Toto’s “Africa”.  It’s free, fun, and a memory that she will hopefully carry with her for a long time.  Another family self-care action that I try to practice as much as possible is holding hands with my husband.  It may sound corny, but when we go to the grocery store or, last week walking around the Iowa State Fair for example, we held hands.  The grocery store walk lasts about a minute, the fair a little longer, but it felt good and it made me happy.  Needless to say #relationshipgoals, am I right?

Other things have to do with work.  The paycheck has nothing to do it.  My job as a teacher doesn’t make me wealthy by any means, but the satisfaction I get when I write one of my students a hand-written note expressing how proud of them I am or that I notice they are improving in a certain area, is a great feeling.  It makes it even better when I’m discreetly side-eyeing them while they read the note and a big smile comes across their face.

Alone times are great methods of self-care as well.  One of the things that makes me feel great is saying a prayer each morning or listening to some positive music while I get dressed in the morning.  My faith is an ultimate driver in my life and in the words of gorgeous-legged Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, take the wheel.”  It feels good to truly trust and believe and make time to acknowledge that if the things I view in my life as problems are as bad as it’s going to get, I still have it pretty good.  Another one of my self-care practices is my alone time on my back deck, early in the morning, drinking my coffee, my dog loyally sitting next to me, watching my horses graze and listening to birds…in complete silence.  Silence can sometimes be deafening, but in moments like that, it feels a little easier to for your mind to be a little clearer and to be able to breathe a little deeper.

Then comes doing good for others.  Somehow, in the way this crazy world works, doing something nice for someone else and expecting nothing in return makes you feel better.  Some may think this is a silly example, but if you’re prone to a little road rage every now and then like I am, you’ll totally understand.  Picture this, you’re in a hurry and the person in the lane next to you notices a little later than appreciated that they are in the wrong lane or will never be “let in” based on the line of cars behind you.  I take a deep breath, pause, and think about the fact that maybe that person is in a hurry, has problems I’m unaware of rattling around in their brain, or a on their way to an appointment they’ve waited a month for and now may lose their spot because of traffic.  Let them in.  Don’t get me wrong, the little hand wave in the rearview mirror or a blink of the lights is nice, but they next time someone does that for you, you begin to realize the appreciation and begin to acknowledge the kindness and positive “juju” you are putting out in this world.

So find your happy place.  Go the gym, be happy there.  Come home and really enjoy the taste of that Performance Inspired chocolate protein and thank your body for its strength.  Wish someone a happy birthday or greet the cashier at the grocery store with a smile, you never know, they may have had a rude customer before you.  Hold the door open for someone.  Pick up a piece of trash that didn’t belong to you.  Be a better you.  Follow the Performance Inspired motto when it comes to life, not just your workout.  Be “INSPIRED TO BE BETTER”, to others and to yourself.  Yourself will thank you for it!