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Sarah Miller's avatar

Unfortunately I can't take credit for "begin again" -- it's something I learned from Courtney Wyckoff, founder of my beloved online HIIT program, MommaStrong (which isn't just for mamas!) If it wasn't for me hearing her talk about beginning again 1000 times over the past six years, I'm not sure it would have sunk in.

For me, "begin again" is flexible and applies in whatever way we presently need it: begin again on this thing that's vexing me. Begin again after taking time away from a regular practice. Begin again after failing. Begin again during the witching hour when all things children and family life are going to hell. Begin again in any moment, for any reason, at your own discretion.

It's a beautiful concept and one that has taught me a lot.

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Ashley Hartman Annis's avatar

I appreciate these questions so much! From a TRE / somatics perspective, I would answer the question "how hard are we supposed to work" with another question: what is my body communicating / needing? And then I think the practice (for me anyway) is really tuning into the super subtle whispers ("mmm I think I could use a break") before my body has to scream it at me ("okay now I've injured myself because I pushed it too far for too long"). I think that goes for physical AND emotional projects / situations.

And and—what's so fascinating & frustrating & real about the body / nervous system is that it CHANGES. My capacity (physical, mental, emotional) isn't the same from day to day (or moment to moment sometimes) so I can't rely on past-me boundaries to inform what present me needs. Because things are in flux I actually have to PAUSE and then LISTEN and then REACT to right now. Which, gah, is hard. But learning TRE and getting to know my nervous system and practicing being more somatically minded has reallyyyyyy helped me on this journey.

Thanks for giving me this space to think about these questions!

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