Trust the Process

Even if you don't fully know what the process is, or what that means for your life. Spoiler alert - you actually do.

Photo by Valentina Sotnikova on Unsplash

Hola Friends,

This week, What I’d Rather Be Talking About is trusting the process. If you’re wondering if I’m getting deep right off the bat, I sure am.

I originally heard the expression “trust the process” at one of my first Bikram Yoga classes (back when we called it Bikram). It was delivered by a super cool instructor named Barb. Barb had an infectious enthusiasm that made everyone feel safe, powerful, and able to get through 90 minutes of 105-degree yoga.

Barb’s words at the start of every Bikram yoga class:

“I’ll guide you through each and every pose, and get you in and out of here in no time, safe and sound. You can do it. It’s all about the process, people. You’ve just got to trust the process.”

Trusting the process, in that case, meant trusting that the 90-minute torture chamber was indeed benefitting my body and that I could do the class without dying or passing out. Barb’s enthusiasm and confidence helped all of the yogis in the room believe that no matter how hot or how hard things got… we’d be okay.

Photo by Dane Wetton on Unsplash

As time went on, I found that It was indeed possible to get through the 90-minute classes and feel better for it. The funny thing was, I started thinking about the process in real life and how it could be used for tough situations of all kinds.

This week, consider your own life and what’s been challenging you. And then remember Barb, and go ahead and trust the process. Maybe some of the tips in this issue will help you fine-tune your body, mind, and spirit so you’re ready for all of life’s challenges.

Here’s to the process, friends.

Abbey

IN MY EARS & ON MY SCREEN

PODCASTS:

Let’s talk about life. If you love Hoda, and Mel Robbins, and want to get unstuck… give this episode of Making Space with Hoda Kotb a listen.

Let’s talk about Lymphatic Drainage. Because it’s kind of a thing. This episode of The Best Medicine features an acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner who will give us the low down on some holistic practices that can help you sleep better, have improved digestion, as well as less stress, less pain, and less inflammation. Plus, she talks about how acupuncture can be used in place of Botox. Interesting stuff.

Getting organized. I’m trying. I’ve been donating, decluttering, and repurposing like crazy for the past couple of weeks. If this sounds like you, give Less Is More, How to Conquer Clutter, and Quiet The Chaos with Chalene Johnson a listen. Chalene offers practical tips that will help you get rid of what you don’t need, and bring in more of what you do need.

STREAMING:

Save money while you feed your YouTube addiction with these meal prep videos. So… I actually, meal-prepped this weekend and now I’m obsessed with the concept. Here are two meal prep videos you might like - try this one if you like tofu, salad, and protein bowls, or this one if you like taco bowls/salad or veggie chili. Or try Downshiftology for general tips on how to save $$$.

Looking to get away? You’re not alone - 2023 has been named “The Year of Travel.” Since the pandemic situation is behind us (can I say that?), people want to see the world again. It seems like everyone has a different idea of where to go (you know I’d tell you to go here), so I’ve collected a few options for you to review. First, a long-ish video of “10 Countries You Must Visit in 2023.” Another YouTuber, Kristin, has other ideas of where to go in 2023, and finally, here’s a report on what Conde Nast has to say about the Year of Travel.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

LIFESTYLE For healthy snacking that doesn’t rob you of all the joys in your life, watch this segment of Hoda & Jenna, highlighting foods found at The Goods Mart. Featured treats: Gigantic, a ”Sorta Sweet, Super Yum” a low-sugar candy bar (just 7 grams) made with fair trade chocolate and plant-based caramel. Or maybe you’d like “Hey Yum” gummies, made with organic cane sugar by female founders. These gummies “Redefine candy and offer the world an alternative – one that’s ORGANIC, unjunked, and just better.” If you’re kinda salty, give Pipcorn a try. The secret to its goodness lies is in its special heirloom corn, and Pipsnacks is a women-owned, minority-owned family business. Finally, if you like to dip but aren’t into dairy, try this plant-based and dairy-free cheesy goodness that’s good for cooking too. (I’m ordering the Core + Rind Cashew Cheese Sauce.)

BUY This week, I want to highlight a small business owned by two of the coolest people I know. Meet Jim & Kim Lehmkuhl, owners of Wolf River Leather. They make beautiful (I’m talking Sundance Catalog beautiful) leather bags that raise my heart rate every time I see their Instagram posts (@wolfriverleather). Their motto is, “Just like a fine wine, leather gets better over time!” Best of all, every single one of their products is “Hand cut & hand stitched, always.” Each bag has a name (how cool is that) and they’ve got other fabulous products like dog collars, log carriers, wine holders, and their famous sleigh bells. If you do nothing else today, please visit their site and follow them on Instagram.

AND, ON A SERIOUS NOTE

While we’re busy trusting the process, it’s good to remember to keep the process in perspective. It’s true that we can simply trust that things are going to work out, according to process (which they are), but the kicker is that it’s up to us to do the work and contribute to said process.

Now, all of that is well and good, but it can also make us crazy. It might have even made a yogi like myself think… wait, isn’t it just about trusting the process? And then it dawned on me - the process is doing the work and doing the things that will get us closer to our goals.

It’s ditching crappy food and replacing it with healthier food. Cutting back on the sauce. It’s moving our bodies. Visiting our doctors as needed. Taking care of our relationships. Leaving jobs that aren’t right for us and finding new ones that are. Learning and working hard, day by day towards our goals.

The process… consists of all of these things. And the reason we can trust it? Because we’re not alone as we do it all. We’ve got great yogis like Barb - the master of Trust the Process - helping us, reassuring us, and showing us how to get there.

That’s the magic of the process. And when we finally trust it

… we discover that it’s actually working for us.

Now go do the work.

Trust me,

Abbey

Santa Marta, Colombia (Photo courtesy of Mitchell Fowler - @mitch_saucee)