Mastering Spirit: What is Spirit Anyway?

My blog header alludes to the idea that Spirit is supposed to be tied with my religious identity as a Catholic woman and recently my posts have followed suited, especially with Confirmation right around the corner. 

But my Spirit really encompasses so much more. 

My religious spirit is Catholic.  But I also utilize other spiritual practices; yoga, meditation and Sanskrit chanting (to name a few).  My spirit also includes my soul, psyche and emotional well-being (as in “keeping your spirits up,” or “broken spirit”).

This is a short and long way of informing you, dear readers, that future Mastering Spirit posts might include other spiritual ideas, not just religious ones.

What does Spirit mean to you?  What topics would you write about, if you were blogging about Spirit?

Mastering Body: Getting Reacquainted with the Long Run

As I mentioned in last week’s Mastering Body post,  I am starting to train for multiple half marathons throughout this race season.

The first race is Sunday March 24.  3 weeks away now!  In order to run this race, I’ve got to get back into distance running shape. Sounds easier than it is.

The first week of training the long run was only 4 miles, which was very manageable for me.  The following week, I was able to run all my prescribed runs, but my long run had to be shortened from 6 miles to 5 because of time constraints.  Then this week, running was just no on my radar.  I barely followed my plan at all, ran a horrible 7 miles and feel terrified to double that distance in 3 weeks.

However, after yesterdays run, I’m realizing 2 important lessons.

1. Each shorter run really builds up your tolerance.  Last week when I ran as prescribed, each run felt better and better and I could have tackled the 6 miler with no problem.  And this week when I was barely focused on running, each run felt awful, my body and mind were not into it and took every once of energy I had just to make it to a long run of 7 miles (1 mile short of the planned 8).
2. Training trickles over into all aspects of your life.  Even for “shorter” races like a half marathon.  I need to eat better, sleep better, stretch better and schedule my work outs better, so good things build on each other (like the week where all of my runs built on each other).

Now that I’ve made these realizations and connections this weeks training schedule and life plan looks very different.  Hopefully, next week I can report back a much better, more prepared feeling about having to run 13.1 miles in 2 weeks.

Mastering Mind: Deadlines

At job interviews when people ask me what my weaknesses are, I always answer, “I’m a perfectionist and a procrastinator.”

When projects are assigned, right off the bat, I typically have thousands of great ideas.  However, because of my perfectionistic tendencies, I become overwhelmed by my own ideas, buckle under the pressure, procrastinate and then end up turning in good (but not great or perfect) work.

Because of that process, deadlines are my best friend and worst enemy.  They are my best friend because at least they at least require the work to be completed, otherwise I could put it off for forever.  They are my worst enemy because, as they approach my work seems to get sloppier and more frenetic.

Today is my worst nightmare in regards to deadlines.  I started out this morning finishing up a work assignment that was actually due yesterday.  Now I am writing this post 15 minutes before it’s supposed to post.  And what am I actually supposed to be doing today?  Taxes!  I told the Pilot, my tax stuff would be organized and totaled by this weekend and told myself I would spend all day on Friday on it.  Well here is Friday and I haven’t even started!

I know I could do incredible work, if I learned to start earlier and budget my time better.  But, I only remember this procrastination cycle throughout my whole life (elementary, middle, high school and college).

My approach to work changed drastically in grad school.  And, as I write this, I can’t for the life of me remember, what motivated me to stay so on top of things.   But, even if I could, would that same attitude be what motivates me now?  I kind of doubt it.

I think my best approach at this point is to make mini deadlines, that keep me on track before the big deadline and tell someone (maybe the Pilot?) about the mini deadlines, so the accountability is there.

Although, I would really love to discover a bit more personal accountability and motivation.  That’s a deadline for another day.

How do you handle deadlines?  Do you crave the structure?  Buckle under pressure?  Do you avoid the project?  Or do you get it done days before it’s due?

Any advice you have, would be greatly appreciated!!

Mastering Spirit: Making Time

This is going to be a short post.  “Making Time” really has multiple meanings, one of which being, I am making time (a very small amount) to write this blog post.

The past 2 weekends have been extremely busy.  Our schedules have been jam packed both days.   Despite the crazy schedules I am proud to say that The Pilot and I made it a priority to get to church both weekends.

We had to literally sit down, look at our schedules, look at the church schedule, plan what works for us, and commit to it.  Church has to become just as much of a commitment as all of the other things on our schedule.

It feels good to make a commitment and stick too it.  I really wish my mentality about making time for Church would bridge to other aspects of my life.

Mastering Body: Half Marathon Schedule

*Sorry for the odd posting time (I try to make it a point to post at 3pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday), but there was no internet at work today, so blogging had to wait*

Last year I ran my first marathon.  It was a great experience, but training was long and hard and time consuming.  Not quite what I am looking for this year. So the Pilot suggested a series of half marathons over the race season, all about 6 to 8 weeks apart.

About a week ago we selected the races and then Saturday night we started the registration process.

Here is the schedule:

1. Chi Town Half Marathon on March 24, 2013
2. Rockford Half Marathon on May 19, 2013
3. Rock ‘n Roll Chicago on July 21, 2013
4. Fox Valley Half Marathon on September 22, 2013

I hope to improve my time with each race, but I don’t know yet how fast I can go.  I’ve selected this 6 week training program to start with, basically because I only had 6 weeks to train and I prefer to run as few days as possible

After a baseline race and to start improving, I’ll probably move to this training plan, which I’ve used before and LOVED!!

Signing up for the races really gets me motivated to run consistently, so I’m excited for this race season to get underway.  Wish me luck!!

*You can follow my training on dailymile*

Mastering Mind: Defining Work

I’ve talked before about some of my scheduling difficulties.  Working odd hours and odd days can be quite confusing and sometimes when I’m working it doesn’t really look like work.  Or what I think other people perceive as work.

At times, I feel the need to justify what I call work.  Today is a perfect example;  I am writing this post on Friday morning (about 11am, but set to post at 3pm) at my makeshift desk at our kitchen table in yoga pants and sweatshirt.  I haven’t even showered yet.  I consider this work because blogging gets my creative juices following; necessary fuel to help me write articles for work or maybe some day author all the books I have titled in my head.  Later, I will read.  I am currently reading 2 work related books; I Hate You, Don’t Leave Me and Optimal Functioning.  Reading these books will make me a better clinician, but I doubt most people just get to read and call it work.  Later still, I might find time to study for the next licensing exam I need to take.

This will all be done from home, which could mean, no shower required and my uniform remains yoga pants and a sweatshirt.  Not a normal “work day".”

Yesterday is another good (but strikingly different) example.  I showered, wore work clothes and went to the office; saw 4 clients, conducted 5 intern interviews, spoke to the mother of a client about a future treatment plan and drank a lot of coffee.  However my business was conducted from 11am to 7pm (not the normal 9 to 5 gig).

My definition of work changes daily.  Next week on what is typically considered a work from home day, I’ll be attending two very different types of training; a meditation training and a Mood Disorders discussion lead by Kay Redfield Jamison.

Do any of you work non-conventional jobs or odd hours?  How do you define work?

Mastering Spirit: Monica

I don’t know about you, but when I hear the name Monica I immediately think of Monica (Geller) Bing from my favorite TV show Friends!  And while I’d love to write an entire blog post about Monica, or Friends, for that matter, this post is about a different Monica; ME!

I have chosen Monica to be my confirmation name.  I do struggle with feeling like Monica is a very modern name to be that of a saint, but after doing a bit of research, I couldn’t imagine taking any other name.

Back in high school, I would have taken the confirmation name Mary.  It is my mother’s given name and I thought that would be a nice way to honor her.  Plus, let’s face it, to a high schooler, it was an easy choice; no research necessary as Mary is one of the most famous saints.

However, as an adult, I needed a name that reflected me, not my mother and I was a little more willing to do some research to find the appropriate name.

So what aspects of me, did I want this name to reflect?  Well my profession, seemed like a good place to start, because I believe I have talents that drew me to this profession; empathy, good listening skills and emotional insight (to name a few).  Upon further reflection, I realized these talents were transferable to other aspects of my life, for right now, mainly being a wife, but what about the future when I become a mother?

Could it be possible to find someone that was the patron saint of Mothers, Wives and Counselors?  Turns out it was incredibly simple. 

Enter St. Monica.  So, St. Monica is known for watching over mothers, wives and counselors, which would have been enough to sell me on taking her name.  But she possessed other qualities, mainly motivation, determination and consistency, that I wish I had more of.

St. Monica was made to look over me and some of the major things I want to accomplish in my life (being a good wife, mother and counselor) and by taking her name I hope to begin to embody the qualities she possessed that I feel I’m lacking in (motivation, determination and consistency).

I have been blogging more consistently recently, so maybe Monica is already working her magic