Your Habits Shape Your Identity.

March 4, 2023 by GigiValdez Leave a comment

In the first quarter of the new year, a good number of people aim for a goal to be better.

I am going to lose weight.

I will read more books… etc…

And most people have difficulty sticking to their plan. And often, most of us will be doing the same thing year after year.

How can we change that?

What I learned from Atomic Habits, is to create Identity-based habits.

There are three levels where change occur.

The first outer layer is changing your GOALS. This is where we all WANT TO GET TO. It could be losing weight, learning a new language.
The second layer is changing your SYSTEMS. If you want to lose weight – then you start to workout at the gym or start meal planning.
The third layer is changing your IDENTITY. This level is the deepest level. This is where your worldview, beliefs and your character comes in.

After graduating Physical Therapy in 1998, I did not have any direction. I worked different jobs. I was into different sports. I really didn’t know WHO I WAS.

And then Schyler (my son), came along. My identity shifted to being a MOM. So, I learned the systems that would work to raise a boy. My goal is to become a good mom.

In 2009, I needed to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam in the United States. My goal was to become a licensed Physical Therapist to help support my son by myself. I was a single mom at that time.

I failed it the first time I took it. I needed to re-focus.

In order to become a Physical Therapist.

I need to pass the board exam.

For me to pass the board exam…

I created a system of studying 4 hours a day from 3:30am to 8:30am. So, I can still work at 9:30am.

And I started to re-read and immerse myself in Physical Therapy again.

I asked this question in my mind….” What would a Physical Therapist do?”

A physical therapist is a movement-based health care practitioner that helps people functional after an injury and illness and help improve quality of life.

And I chose to do that for myself, I ate healthier. I worked out regularly. It was my road to changing my identity from not knowing who I am – to who I wanted to be.

If you want to be more organized and have more time.

You can start with creating a system of mapping out your day and your week.

And ask yourself, “What would an organized person do?”

If you really want to make a change in your life and in yourself. You must really WANT it and don’t worry about your goal.

And start shaping your identity.

The results and your goals will follow.

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR HOME

February 25, 2023 by GigiValdez Leave a comment

Everyone talks about changing your mindset, changes your life. That holds very true. But, personally for me. I fast tracked my mindset by changing the environment that I live in.

I used to come home to a house full of stuff in 2017. Then, I watched a a couple of shows on Netflix, Kon Mari by Marie Kondo and the first documentary by the Minimalists.

It changed my life. It changed my family’s life.

We started to get rid of the clutter. Clutter is anything that doesn’t give you joy or add any value in your life. Clutter comes in many forms. It comes in material form, emotions and even people.

So, I started with WHAT I CAN CONTROL.

My Home.

I started by myself and eventually my husband and son joined in too.

Here are simple ways to help start decluttering your home.

Establish a plan with a timeline and a specific goal. For us, we started small. For 30 minutes each day, we chose items to keep and part ways with. On weekends, we would spend up to 6 hours to go through our things.
And choose one space or one category of items at a time. I started with clothing, bags, and shoes. Or start with your bedroom, then living room, kitchen, etc.…
Create a sorting system. One box to keep. One box to get rid off and one to place in storage – ONLY for SEASONAL items and MEMORABILIAS.
If I haven’t used an item for more than 2 years. It went to a donation/sell box.
In the summer, we had a couple of garage sales and for things we didn’t sell – we donated it.

Decluttering is my gateway to being a Minimalist. And it is an ongoing journey. There are times that I accumulate some things too – and every 2-3 months. I start to get rid of things I don’t need.

What are the benefits of living in a clutter-free home?

It feels peaceful when I come home. Less things equals less noise in my mind.
At the end of a workday and during the weekend. We spend quality time as a family instead of cleaning the house.
The house is easier to clean with less clutter.
Saves you money too! I have learned to ask myself. Do I NEED it? Or Do I WANT it?

If you need a little inspiration here are some shows and books that you can dive yourself into.

SHOWS

Books

The mental and physical freedom that goes with living a clutter-free life is tremendous. You will be making more room for more time with the people you love, and that includes yourself.

Good Vibrations

June 18, 2021 by GigiValdez Leave a comment

“Do you have any questions for me?” I asked my new patient for home health physical therapy today, as I wrap up the evaluation.

“Yes, I actually do… Are you always THIS happy?”

I’ve never been asked this question. EVER. But I was almost always told that I bring sunshine to their homes whenever I see patients at their home.

It has just become a conscious decision for me that when I go to patient’s house or when I see a patient. I bring positivity to their home. More often than not, I am their only visitor for days and weeks.

And nobody really looks forward to just exercising. It was an emotional choice for me to switch my energy to the highest level possible when I work with a patient or any person for that matter.

This skill set took years to develop. The skill of finetuning your vibration, your aura, your energy to a positive one – that the other person FEELS it.

The downside of this skill, you have complete strangers pour their heart and soul sometimes. I become a shock absorber. And this is okay every now and then. But if it becomes too much. I have learned to channel the negative energy to something else. So, it doesn’t get pent up inside. Otherwise, I would suffer – or my family will.

Call it what you want. Energy. Aura. Light. All I aim for it is to be a GOOD one.

I have learned that if you always make a conscious effort to emit positivity and do good. It comes back to you two-fold, maybe even three or four.

And people will remember may not always remember what you do. But they will remember how you made them FEEL.

On that note, here are some ways that I keep a maintain and create a positive aura:

Be Grateful. Even for the little things. Write it down. Say it out loud. “Today, I am grateful for being able to jump out of bed.” And when you feel like starting complain. Stop. And think of something to be thankful for.
Taking the “heavy” jacket off. There are just some days that wears anyone out. Including me. On days like those, before I go inside our home. I pretend that I am taking off a jacket that is filthy and heavy – then throwing it away in an imaginary laundry basket. When I have had an emotionally tolling day. I would say it out loud too. “I am taking all the heaviness off and I am going to enjoy my down time with my family.”
Grounding on grass. I just started this one. I stand in the backyard barefoot. And just playing with my dog. Connecting with the earth.
Water meditation. I read this somewhere. And I don’t remember exactly… But at the start of a day or end of a day. I fill up a glass of water. Hold it with both hands. Stare at the water and think or say that this water is filled with good energy and it will go through my body and will help cleanse and get me activated throughout the day. And then when I do drink it, I think of how it goes to quench my body and my soul.
Spending time with family. I make sure I hug my family every single day. When our son Sky comes home from school. We hug each other and count to 20-30 secs. With this habit, he has learned to come to one of us for a hug when he is feeling stressed with schoolwork too. And it helps!
Healthy eating. I have been doing my best to follow a blue zone diet. Cooking with olive oil, eating greens, beans… Sugar is cut down to a minimum. More on that in one of my future posts.
Keep Moving. Taking walks, parking a few feet from the grocery entrance, sneaking in a few squats every now and then. Helps keep the body and mind healthy.

These are just some of the things I practice on a daily basis. Do what works best for you. Experiment. Try new things. If it seems silly to you, but you LIKE it? Go for it. The more positive and good vibration we emit, makes the world a happy place.