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Hi Reader,

Last week, I shared the story of how a single phone check derailed my whole morning routine. It ended with me listening to some random stranger's music choice, out loud, at the gym.

Today, I want to take that thread a little further.

Because every morning, as part of that same routine, I also read what are called Afformations. Not Affirmations. Afformations 🤓 (Credit to Noah St. John, who coined the concept back in 1997.)

The difference is small. But powerful.

Affirmations are statements like "I am healthy. I am successful. I am enough." And then that little voice in your head says, "Who do you think you are?!" 😆

Afformations are questions: "Why am I so healthy? Why am I so successful? Why do I feel enough?"

Instead of telling your brain something it doesn't quite believe yet, you ask it a question. And let it go looking for evidence.

And one of the afformations I've been sitting with lately is this:

"How can I stop sabotaging myself?"

Because oh my friends… I am so good at it.

For me, the most obvious place it shows up is my weight journey.

Every day, I feel motivated. I go to the gym. I eat healthy (or at least, I think I do 😅). I get my walks in. Sleep plenty. Hydrate.

And then I catch myself contemplating taking the elevator instead of the stairs after my gym session 🤣

Let that sink in.

There I am, paying a monthly subscription for strength training, building all this beautiful momentum…

And then taking the lift. Right back up to my apartment. After working my legs. In the building literally next door 🤦‍♀️

Oh my.

Once I noticed that, a much bigger question opened up: where else am I doing this?

Career? Maybe.
Personal Growth? Hmm.
Other things I haven't even named yet? Almost certainly.

But here's what I find intriguing: just noticing changes something.

I don't need to fix every pattern overnight. I just need to start asking the question.

And honestly? I think I might need some coaching around this myself. Because even the coach needs to get coached 🌿

What's your version of taking the elevator after the gym? Where might you be quietly sabotaging the very thing you're working toward?​
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Chat next week,
Peggy 🌿

Backyard Gossip | Stories about life, business & the spaces in between