Happy New Year readers, my blog will be filled with helpful handy tips throughout January – but first, an explanation.

You may, or may not, have noticed my absence from social media over the past few weeks. I’ve been around for my clients but my blog posts haven’t been there. I wanted to post about why because I aim to always be honest, in my life and in my business.

Besides, this has taught me a lesson.

I recently experienced something that I was convinced I could brush off. I spent a few days being angry and then I let it go.

Or maybe not.

On my Christmas night out we ended up being out on the town without any guys in our group. Cue a seemingly endless barrage of attention from single men who were out on the pull.

Attention = flattering, acceptable.

Being unwillingly groped and kissed = illegal. Uncomfortable and wrong.

I must take a step back at this point to acknowledge that none of my male friends would think it was acceptable. #NotAllMen.

I hadn’t posted about this because my Mum does read my blogs and this one unfortunate incident will overshadow the 8 years of successful nights out I’ve had!

But I wanted to write about this because it’s taught me an important lesson.

We can be going along in our lives and feel fully in control and then something happens to stop us in our tracks.

Something happens to make us doubt ourselves.

Something happens that causes us to withdraw.

And then what?

For me I had to admit to myself that this was bothering me. I had to work through the anger and let myself feel that before dealing with it.

I had to assess the damage done and try and smooth it over.

All of this took time and it took my focus away from other things, which made me angry which delayed the whole cycle.

Interestingly enough writing about it helps and this is why I have used journalling in one form or another for years, particularly during my weight loss.

Because life is unpredictable and keeping it all locked up inside our heads makes for a very busy and anxious inner monologue.

This event caused me to stop, take note and then deal with the situation calmly and honestly and come out the other side, fighting.

A skill that is vital to success in any part of life.

Take weight loss as an example.

Weight loss is a mental game.

You can have all the knowledge, all the rules, and the fancy food and essential kitchen equipment but if you’re not prepared for the mental battle it will be x10 as hard.

It’s a massive life change and it comes with it’s ups and downs, it’s not all weekly weight loss and endless positive energy. Some days will suck.

Weeks will go by where you don’t lose weight.
You’ll go to parties and eat too much.
You’ll skip on sleep.
You’ll miss a few workouts.

And you’ll worry that the time you’ve lost has damaged your results.

But you can always come back.

I have feared that by not posting during December that I’ve somehow let my readers down.

Could my posts have been motivational and helped people?

Could I have shared some tips that would have benefited you all?

Of course.

But December is one month.

January is the next one and from here I go on.

Whatever gets in the way of your current path in life is just temporary.

Whatever you’re currently struggling with it will pass.

And I’m not saying that as some patronising #MotivationMonday quote, I’m saying it because we never know what will happen if we keep going.

The road only stops when we say it does.

Needless to say that this is my welcome back post to myself.

That one event is something I have experienced, something I have dealt with and I’m ready to pick up where I left off.

It’s good to be back.

Ainzlie xx