I don’t know about you, but as much as I appreciate and value people I know, choose and trust offering me refinement, celebration, feedback, reflection advice and wisdom…

I don’t much like people telling me what I can and can’t do.

Especially as most of it turns out not to be true.

I’ve turned Trail Blazer, remember?

I mean if I’d listened to all the people who told me I couldn’t do something, I certainly wouldn’t be here writing to you today.

And so I don’t really like categorizing my life into ‘that’s not for me’. Of course there are things I have no desire to pursue – recreational drugs, roller coasters, and alcohol spring to mind. But here’s the thing, I could do them if I wanted to, I just choose not to (apart from the drugs, that’s illegal. Stay legal, darlings).

Instead of saying, ‘I can’t do that,’ I focus on what I want and what behavior will support that goal.

I practice this philosophy in many parts of my life:

– I could stay up and finish this project, but I want to feel well, so I choose to sleep instead.

– I can eat a huge plate of chips with loads of hummus (I’m vegan, I eat hummus with everything, it’s like our butter) but I want to feel good in yoga tonight, so I choose a quinoa salad with miso tahini dressing (want recipes? Head here gracequantock.com/plantbasedwellness)

– I’m upset and I really wish I drank alcohol because something to dull the emotional pain sounds pretty good right now. But I’d rather be congruent and stay present with my feelings so I check in with what I need and nourish myself with journaling, horse/dog/furry therapy and ritual.

If I want to feel optimum, I choose optimum behaviors. (Click to Tweet!)

If I’m ok with feeling less than optimum, then maybe I will do something that doesn’t feel quite so good but that I need right then.

If you’d like to read more about my Optimum and Non-Optimum practice, it’s all in my new ebook, along with interactive worksheets and examples. Grab your copy here.

How do you differentiate your activities? Do you grade yourself bad/good? Please respond in the comments below.

Featured image courtesy of Dominik Martin (via Unsplash.com)

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“Grace’s e-book is like being spoon-fed that delicious, juicy, green drink you’re craving in the morning, but too lazy to make for yourself. I’ve dabbled with plant based and raw food eating in the past, but never had a compass to guide me through the process. She takes the guess work out of preparing and planning your food adventures, as well as lovingly guides you through the transformational process of how we can use food to heal our bodies. This book is a gift for your mind, body & soul!” – Lindsey Tibesar, Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Passionate Entrepreneur, Marathon Runner.

Buy it here.