Vision for the Year Ahead

When the dark clouds part the sun will once more shine through –

reflecting on a challenging year and having a vision for the future.

Last year is one that most of us would like to forget, but there are many things we

can learn from our time in lockdown. Recently, I’ve been taking a little time to reflect

and look back at how we’ve pulled together, supported each other and remained

steadfast in our combined efforts to keep calm and carry on. What’s stood out to me

the most is that, even with the worst that this pandemic has thrown at us, your

enthusiasm for training has not waned, be it in the gym when we’ve been open, at

your own home or with James, Jasmine and Cameron.

When the first lockdown came we adapted, we trained at home with equipment

loaned from the gym, and we worked out how to keep working out. By the time we

were forced to close our doors again, we were all in a much better position to modify

our routines for continued success.

For me personally, these past 10 months have been challenging for a number of

reasons, not least in my desire to keep the doors of The Ministry open to you all in

the safest possible way, and to continue to support your physical and mental health

and wellbeing.

Inside the gym we’ve dismantled, rethought, rebuilt, added equipment of value and zoned

the gym for additions personal space.

I feel that we have, in the main, achieved this goal, even with the

limitations that were forced upon us.

I’m determined to add and grow.. keep watching.

But now is the time to look forward, to make plans for the future and to renew our

zest for life, whilst continuing to believe that we will get through this terrible disease

and come out on top. To do this we need to have a vision.

The goal of having a vision is to get a clear view of where we want to be and how we

want to feel. If we write our vision in the present tense - as if we’re already there and

have accomplished our goals – it has a profound impact on the way our brains

process information and will greatly increase our chances of fulfilling this vision.

These are the questions I ask myself, and they really help me nail down my own

vision for the future and what healthy means to me. So why don’t you give it a go

and see where you end up?

• My top three values by the end of 2021 are…

• What three ways I will make time for these values?

• What’s the one step I will take to improve my fitness before the end of the year?

• What’s the one step I will take to improve my overall health before the end of the year?

• What’s the one thing I will do to manage and reduce stress?

• What’s the one habit I’d like to create?

• What’s the one habit I’d like to break?

• Who is the person or place I can turn to when I need support?

• Why does taking care of my psychological AND physical health matter to me?

Revisit your answers at intervals throughout the year and see what you’ve achieved.

You’ll be surprised how effective it is.

And talking of effective ways to manage mental health, I’d like to take this

opportunity to introduce you to our newest and hairiest member, Trooper. I have

been lucky enough to find an incredible buddy to bring a little more sunshine into my

life and you’ll be seeing him around the gym a lot, so make sure you get your daily

dose of this little dude as he really does make the difficult times feel that much

easier.

So, as we’re into a new year all that remains for me to say is thank you. Thank you

for the unwavering support you have demonstrated to us and to each other. Thank

you for believing in us and in the journey that we are taking together, and thank you

for making The Ministry what it is today - a safe, secure and supportive home from

home where you really can just be you.

We hope to be open again soon and look forward to welcoming you all back with a

renewed sense of hope and purpose.