Tracy's Wellness Journey: Seeing is Believing

As the seasons change from fall to winter, I find myself reflecting on not only the past 12 months, but beyond. I’m filled with hope and joy and anticipation for what the future holds. My imagination and creativity have been ignited.

Completing the 75 Hard Mental Toughness Challenge was both mind-blowing and broadening. The biggest hurdle I encountered on the journey was prioritizing myself and the challenge tasks that were required every single of the 75 days. For the first time in a long time, I’m proud of ME for the work I’ve done for ME!

People have asked, “How did you manage it?” 

The truth is I started before I started. I saw myself crossing the finish line. I saw myself enjoying the process. I saw myself shifting my priorities. I saw myself losing weight and feeling more confident.  And I saw myself becoming a better ME for ME! I wasn’t doing this for anyone else.  

What you focus on grows. Visualization is a powerful cognitive tool. Not only does it boost confidence, but it also improves one’s motivation. It can decrease stress and reduce anxiety.  Seeing yourself mastering a skill helps build healthy routines. By expanding your knowledge, you gain clarity and make better decisions.

Visualization can be as easy as taking a couple of minutes per day to manifest the things you want to see in your life. Simply close your eyes and begin to dream and imagine. Write what you want in detail, be specific — see yourself through your own eyes doing whatever you want to be doing or experiencing. 

Feel what it feels like to be doing those things or having those experiences that you want. Journaling also is a tool that I used in the visualization process.  

The main key was to plan my action steps every single day and keep focused on the high yielding tasks for both me, my family, and my business. The challenge was a lot to manage, so planning and scheduling was of the utmost importance. There were a few times that I needed to give myself grace when I fell short on household chores, family commitments or even work obligations.  

When I planned my hiking trip in September of 2021, I planned it as a solo trip but hoped and prayed my husband would want to join me. I planned that I would be in my best shape to fully experience hiking in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. I planned to feel alive and confident in my travels. I planned my work in advance so I wouldn’t worry while away.  

What I didn’t plan on was breaking my ankle in three places just two weeks after booking the trip. Scientific research shows that it takes at least 40 days of consistent practice for you to form a habit of thinking more positively. As you can imagine, I was feeling down in the dumps about being immobile through the end of 2021 and into 2022. It wasn’t until early February that I was back on two feet and feeling solid in my footsteps.  

Recovering was key to my motivation. You always attract what you believe. I believed that despite having type 1 diabetes, my body was capable of healing itself. I started imagining and creating mental pictures of myself hiking and enjoying the rich culture of Colorado with my husband. 

We had conversations about the experiences we would have. We trained together, and I imagined how I would feel seeing the mountains and breathing in the fresh air. I began researching spas, activities, restaurants, and entertainment that we could enjoy together.  

Imagination involves all five of your senses, as well as our emotions. Visualization only involves the sense of sight. It’s powerful when you keep your desired experiences top-of-mind and connected with your senses. It becomes a driving force and catalyst for helping you to get what you want in your life. Of course, you must also take action every day toward your desired outcome while loving the process and the journey.  

— Tracy Stroderd