Hey Reader,

I went for a beach walk with a friend yesterday and was venting about how I’ve been having to do my workouts at 5:30 pm when my gym room is the hottest because it’s getting direct afternoon sunlight.

I then tried to explain why I hadn’t been successful in switching to morning workouts.

She listened and then, as good friends do, gave me some suggestions. But I just kept shooting her down, getting frustrated that she wasn’t understanding why switching wouldn’t work.

I had already made up my mind, and I wasn’t open to receiving her suggestions.

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How often do you do this - make up your mind about something and close yourself off from any outside suggestions?

How often do you have a whole list of excuses why something WON’T work instead of allowing space for ways that it can work?

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This is something I have been working on for years. I even know where it stems from. As a child, I was taught that “I don’t know” was not an answer and that I should be able to try and figure things out myself before I ever even consider asking for help. While that has created a drive in me and a belief that I can do anything, it has also led to this limiting belief that if I ask for help, it is a sign of failure. And if people offer me suggestions, somehow, they are saying that I am bad at something or doing it wrong. And heaven forbid I be bad at something.

It’s not a conscious thought, but it’s something I notice in my behavior, usually after the fact. So today’s little lesson is to practice being open to receiving. Let go of the need to be perfect, control everything - and be open to seeing things in a new way.

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Take a quick reflection of your life and see if you can notice how you might be falling into this trap where you believe that you can’t do something because that's the way it’s always been.

Change is possible; you just have to be open to it.

Have at it!

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- Morgan