What's your M.E.D.??
Oh hi! I haven’t seen you since last year, now have I? I hope your 2019 is off to a lovely start, and thanks for stopping by. : )
So, first of all, let’s get to the goods - M.E.D. stands for “minimum effective dose.” And by that, here’s what I mean:
A “minimum effective dose” is the base level of what’s necessary to “move the needle” in any area of your life. So, for example, if you want to get more fit for the new year, what’s your M.E.D.? What’s the minimum you’ll need to do in order to achieve this goal?
Here’s why I’m thinking about this today: I had a conversation with my guy on New Year’s Eve about our goals for the new year. He was telling me that he wants to get more fit (apparently his daily runs and bike rides aren’t cutting it) and was thinking of additionally hitting the gym three days a week. Being naturally inquisitive, I asked him if he thought three days a week was necessary - and really doable in the long run. I asked him what his M.E.D. was.
I asked something like: “What would you need to do to get results, that you could actually fit in your schedule every week in a way that works long term for you?” (Yeah, being a life coach can’t help but spill out into all areas - and relationships - in my life, but luckily he doesn’t seem to mind! hehe)
His answer? “Actually, I could definitely do two days a week at the gym near my office, and stick with it. And really, I don’t need to do more than that, given my running and biking.” BOOM.
Can you relate to this? Do you ever create somewhat overarching goals (especially this time of year) that are hard to stick with? I’m also thinking about this topic because I know a lot of folks set unrealistic goals as New Years Resolutions, and might be feeling like they’ve failed right about now - when actually, they’ve maybe just set a goal that’s hard to stick with, and perhaps not even necessary to stick with in order to get results.
See, here’s the thing: It’s all about BETTER, not PERFECT. Is your goal making you BETTER - even if it’s not the most absolute perfect ideal you can envision? Then that’s great!! As a recovering perfectionist, I can tell you that life in the land of BETTER is far superior to life in the land of PERFECT. Because, friends, perfect just doesn’t exist in this world. We all too often reject the better in pursuit of the good. And the irony? It’s the BETTER, and the minimum effective dose of whatever MAKES US BETTER, that will get us as close to perfect as possible over time.
As someone who was an obese vegan for most of my twenties, I can confidently tell you that being better is what works, and that striving to be perfect usually keeps you stuck. Personally, I was trying to stick with a diet that I simply could not maintain, out of a need to be perfect (which I fell short of daily with my binges on vegan junk food). Once I realized I didn’t have to be perfect to be at a healthy weight, things got SO MUCH EASIER!!! I found a way of eating I could actually stick with (that was better, not perfect, because I still wanted those damn onion rings) and everything changed.
Even now, 15 plus years later, I constantly remind myself that being better - not perfect - is where it’s at. I strive to maintain my daily minimum effective doses of healthy disciplines, such as eating well, exercising, and meditation. And it’s so much easier when those “doses” are doable!! As opposed to the unrealistic expectations I had for myself decades ago, I now focus on making consistent, small, positive change every single day.
And that’s why I took time out of writing my new book (details before long!) to share this with you. I wish for you to have the happiest new year EVERRRRR, and to discover your path to BETTER and BETTER all the time. : )
So, if you’re keen, maybe take a few minutes to do the following:
1. Write down what you’d like in the following areas: health, relationships, spirituality, and work.
2. Think about your “M.E.D.” for each one. What are some doable ways you could become better (and move toward your goals) in each area?
3. Every day, choose from your list, taking small steps (they all add up!) as the daily minimum effective doses to achieve your goals.
OK loves, that’s it! Back to writing! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope this inspires you to be kind to yourself, and know that you’re fabulous exactly the way you are, but you can keep becoming EVEN BETTER all the time! We all can. : )
xo
Tess