By Megan M. Moore
Wellness is a journey of self-discovery, but not a journey you have to take alone. There is no “right way” to create and maintain a wellness practice; you need to find what works for you. One tip for developing a wellness practice? Take the journey with a friend.
Recently, a connection of mine shared her experience with a 30-day meditation challenge that she completed with a friend. Her intent was to observe what happened when she meditated regularly, and to show herself that she could do it. She meditated all 30 days, and at the end described the numerous benefits she experienced. She will continue her meditation journey.
Relevant to this tip: she described how having a friend helped her stick with the challenge, even on days she did not feel like meditating. Without that, she may not have finished the challenge or experienced the benefits of a regular meditation practice.
For many people, including me, physical activity is an important component of their wellness journey. About four years ago, I began running. I was over 40 and did not particularly enjoy running. I also had a belief that “runners” did marathons and ran 5 to 10 miles on the regular. That did not sound appealing to me, yet I noticed that running even one mile decreased my stress level and kept my body physically fit. To get me over the hurdle from “trying to run” to “being a runner,” I got help.
In 2017, I signed up for a 10k run with a good friend of mine. At the time, the distance seemed unbearable. Two years later we ran a half marathon. Four years later, we still run together once a week, and I run a few times on my own. I actually enjoy it now. My friend is ready for longer races, while I stick to shorter distances. Despite our different goals, we still benefit from our weekly runs, where we get physical activity, time with a friend, and a chance to view the beauty of San Diego. With my friend, I not only created, but have maintained, a wellness practice that supports my physical and mental health.
If you find it challenging to incorporate wellness practices into your everyday life, find a friend to take the journey with you and see what you can create.
Megan M. Moore (Megan@MeganMooreInc.com) is a licensed attorney and certified professional coach. She is President & CEO of Megan Moore, Inc., a business founded on curiosity and the power of the right question. After practicing education law for 12 years, Megan pivoted to coaching and public speaking. She now supports career-driven professionals ready to pivot away from stress and toward professional fulfillment.