How to Launch Your Own Mutiny & Toss That Unhealthy Self Overboard
Written by Katie Tallo
My ship has been floating along for over four decades now. The seas have been pretty calm, the sails are a touch weathered, but the hull is still in pretty good shape. The only problem is the captain – she’s nuts!
Lately, she’s been filling the ship with useless cargo – ice cream, candy, caramel corn and cake. Yep, boat loads of sugar!
If she doesn’t start dumping some of it soon, she’s going to get heavy and take on water. Then it’s only a matter of time before she sinks.
On top of that, she’s been navigating the same waters for way too long. She’s drifting aimlessly back and forth from one port to another and she’s getting absolutely nowhere. This crazy captain who wreaks havoc on my health and screws with my direction in life – this dame of disaster is in for a big surprise. Her time has finally come and she’s about to get tossed overboard.
If your ship is also adrift in stagnant waters, if you’re feeling dragged down by unhealthy cargo, if your internal compass is spinning and giving you no clear direction, then it’s time to launch your very own mutiny. It’s time to grab your scatter-brained skipper by the shoulders, heave them overboard, take hold of the wheel and start navigating towards fresh water – that clear current that carries you towards health and fulfillment and keeps you afloat for life.
Here are five easy ways to launch your own mutiny and toss that unhealthy self overboard:
1. BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES
It’s not easy to cast off old ways and begin anew. Protect yourself. Don’t listen to anyone but that lovely, rebellious voice inside your head saying, “it’s time for a change”, “I’m tired of feeling this way all the time”, “I’m ready to head towards my destiny”. That voice is your inner mutineer rejoicing in the change to come, rejoicing in your inner spirit. This is your mutiny. Hold it close.
2. PLOT A COURSE
Get very specific about your goals and your plan. Maybe you’ve decided it’s time to get healthy, begin a cleanse, eat differently, start exercising, slow down, change careers – whatever it may be, take the time to figure out exactly what you want and how you’re going to get it. Fads, highly restrictive regimes, titanic changes in direction likely won’t carry you through stormy weather. Plot a course that factors in your routines, your relationships, your strengths, your likes and your dislikes. Keep it true to you, and simple and doable under almost any circumstances.
3. BE BRUTAL
Don’t be tempted to toss a life jacket over to the flailing arms of your banished self. Be brutal. Let everyone know that you’re now the one steering the ship. Follow the course you’ve set for yourself and don’t let anyone, any temptation or any sudden shift in the winds steer you off course. Waves of good and bad days will come, but don’t give up. Visualize the golden horizon up ahead and strive to stay on course.
4. SWAB THE DECKS
Keep your focus neat and tidy by preparing for the changes or challenges to come. I’m going vegan next week and prepping my kitchen and menus will clear the way for success without too much struggling and searching for what I need. Keeping things shipshape can make the difference between swimming and sinking.
5. TAKE CHARGE
Listening to yourself, having a plan, vowing to stick to it and preparing for change might launch your mutiny, but action is what truly gets that old self out of the ship and out of your way so that you can take charge of your life. The waves of momentum will come if you just start.
So, is it time for your mutiny? Join me – a good mutiny loves company.
26 Responses to “How to Launch Your Own Mutiny & Toss That Unhealthy Self Overboard”
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A mutiny against self (captain of the ship) – Katie you truly have a brilliant mind with ever flowing creativity!
It often does stun me when the very change I seek, I also fight against as I give in to the gravitational pull of habits, sabotaging thoughts and actions, the voices of others. You offer a great 5 step plan for making real change.
Love this:
“Don’t listen to anyone but that lovely, rebellious voice inside your head saying, “it’s time for a change”
“take the time to figure out exactly what you want and how you’re going to get it.”
“Don’t be tempted to toss a life jacket over to the flailing arms of your banished self. …Follow the course you’ve set for yourself and don’t let anyone, any temptation or any sudden shift in the winds steer you off course. “
Aileen, thank you so much for the kind words. It’s that old internal battle. I can relate to what you’re saying about sabotage. Sometimes my feet carry me to the store for ice cream and my brain is screaming “stop”. It’s like there’s two of me … the spoiled child who wants to get fit by osmosis and eat her cake, and the adult who knows what foods to eat and what hard work it will take to achieve what I want to achieve. They’re always dueling. I’m always looking for ways to end the battle and toss that “spoiled little captain” overboard. This post is a pep talk to my selves.
I think we all feel like we are drifting aimless in the ocean from time to time.
I’m vegetarian and I’ve tried to go vegan a few times. It’s hard when you are the only on in the family going vegan because I can’t quite swab the deck. The menu and items in the kitchen end up catering to the majority. Needless to say that I end up sinking. I have to create a stronger mutiny.
Loving blessings!
Andrea, I guess it’s the human condition to drift a little. I’m one of those people who is a little uncomfortable with the aimless part. I sympathize with you being the lone vegan in your household. Not easy to get things just as you’d like them without a battle. A mini-mutiny or a weekend-mutiny might be your best bet. Good luck and loving blessings to you too.
All good reminders Katie. Often we carry so much stuff we forget what it feels like to put down the things that are weighing us down and feel the sensation of being a little lighter.
Like you, I’ve been around for more than four decades. It’s time for me to trade in some old habits that are no longer serving me for ones that can take my life to the next level.
Good luck with your mutiny.
Alex
Constantly reviewing our lives is what is needed to keep us all ship-shape. It’s so easy to lose concentration and be bowled over by an unexpected wave from time to time. I agree wholeheartedly with #3, Be Brutal. Staying focused on our destination can be a challenge at times, but with the support of articles such as this one, we’ll all be back on course in next to no time.
Thanks for the advise, Katie. A mutininy it is!
Hi Joanne, I knew I’d have fellow mutineers out there. Focus is a big one for me. When I’m focused things fall into place. When I’m not … well bring on the caramel corn. Glad to have you aboard.
this is an AWESOME post..ive been on this course for a few years….I told myself I’m tired of being misrepresented…and the one that’s steering my boat no longer holds me CAPTIVE….Im breaking out of here and all this negative crap can go overboard.;
woo hoo
thanks for your time and attention to writing a great blog
Woo hoo Meghan! Sounds like you’re ready to rock the boat big time. Your captain sounds like a bitch (I hope you don’t mind me saying so). Give her the boot and free yourself, woman.
Whoa Katie, I have the same captain! What are the chances?
She’s going overboard too!
My ship’s hull has been overstocked with caramel flavored rice cakes lately!
Too much sugar – that’s got to go overboard too.
And, the ships been out sailing late into the night.
No more moonlit jaunts for me. Got to get her into port by 11 PM sharp!
And, the old rig needs daily maneuvers too. No more pulling into dock and just sitting there all day.
Thanks for all the great navigating advise!
Maybe we can get together Angela and toss our twin Captains at the same time. Love your analogies. Late night sailing, daily maneuvers for the old rig, all sage navigational advice. Thanks for keeping me on course.
I’m glad I’m not the only one running around with a captain and a bunch of crew members in my brain
Every time I come over here I think “This is the best Katie post yet.” Sure enough, I had that reaction to this post. So incredibly creative yet so practical and useful!
Jean I knew you had more than one person racing around in your brain. That’s how you accomplish so much! Thanks for the post love.
Wonderful post, Katie. A healthy dose of much needed tough love here today. Me vs. myself? And useless cargo — ouch! It stings a bit but serves me right for having one too many scoops of Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra.
My mutiny is usually made up of gradual but constant and very, very small changes. I join you in spirit for going vegan next week. Preparing separate meals is too complicated for my life right now but we do generally eat lots of veggies, fruits, beans and grains and we don’t have to try so hard to have locally grown foods on hand. Last night’s dinner was vegan, does that count? Rock on!
Belinda, I agree. Small changes can really add up and yes, a vegan dinner does count. As for Ben & Jerry’s, well my Cherry Garcia has to go. Damn them for having such creative names — I feel I have to buy it just as a tribute to their awesome labels. But no more. I’ve tossed my bad habits along with the captain. She’s gone. Well she’s on her way out the door Monday. She’s hanging around a bit this weekend feeding me my last supper — cheese and ice cream fest. I’m pathetic today, but not Monday!!!
Hi Katie,
Sounds like you’re on the right track. Awareness is everything and I didn’t follow that link above but I think as of Monday you’re going vegan right? I’m the one who said I’ll do one day a week and see where that leads me…over comittment will sink my ship!
Tess, you’re a smart woman. Over commitment can sink ships. I’m hoping to stay afloat with planning and perseverance and a little pouting too. Tomorrow I go vegan!!!
This is a very interesting point of view. Your blog is refreshing, but I wish one could find more content, though. I am looking forward to reading more from you. Keep up the good work. thanks.
Hey there Success Ladder, I’m fairly new to blogging and not a 5-day-a-week poster so the content is growing but at a doable pace for me. I think I’m up to 36 posts (or 44 if you count some that I’ve removed to create my upcoming ebook). Enjoy reading what I have so far.
Good to see you kicking the sugar habit – it is the worst addiction. Good luck with your new vegan self even it is the polar opposite of my paleo approach! The key with all these mutinies is to kick processed food and the processed food industry into touch. There’s a lot of self deprecation in the comments above, but that industry has huge responsibilities for our decisions. They market and advertise this junk constantly from every angle – its nearly all combinations of sugar, HFCS, treated flour and transfats. They are really worse than the tobacco industry because they pretend its healthy. Even today I heard an ad for a chocolate and nut spread claiming that because it had nuts in it that the nutrients were released “gradually throughout the day”. Our diets, and our authentic selves, be they paleo or vegan really say NO to processed junk, NO to outlandish marketing and YES to authentic, momentous lives!
Hey Mark, yep, sugar and processed foods are the worst. I hate those ads for Nutella that call it a healthy choice. It’s sugar-packed! You’re right, paleo or vegan, healthy living and eating is a constant battle to ignore the gazillions of insanely inaccurate and money-driven messages coming at us daily and instead to do what feels right for us. Best of luck in your own mutiny.
I did this yesterday. I turn 40 this weekend and have been feeling the winds changing directions for a number of months. I have heard myself say “I’m almost done” several times… and this week, I found myself “done.” It is time for that change; time to stop reacting and start moving. I think that we each have a time – the trick is to do it when it is time as if we do it too early we aren’t “ready” and if we don’t hear ourselves say “now” then the move is that much more challenging.
For me, I knew the time had come. Stars aliened, the drama and attempts to control were banging on the door, and I said “baste!” and took action. Happy 40th birthday to me!!
So you are not alone as you set your ship assail… I have begun a new journey of my own!
Dear The Exception: Wow! You sound so pumped. I agree with you. We have to do these things when we’re ready, when it’s our time, when enough is enough and it’s time for nothing but action. Happy 40th to you! And know that you are not alone either. I wish you smooth sailing and much joy.
Love this post and love your blog. It is wise, yet irreverent and infused with levity also..( a much needed thing at midlife!) I have just taken some very big steps in my life to do just what you describe. Maybe there is one more thing I would add, and that is to “Rely on your deckmates” ie use the “tribe” you have around you to help and encourage in the process. As one who is prone to isolation, this is key!
thanks so much for your lovely words.!
Janet, I really appreciate your kind words about my blog. I try to make it a true reflection of who I am and a place that is useful yet enjoyable to visit. Sounds like your deck mates are a big part of your process and your progress. I’m a bit of an isolator too and have to force myself to reach out. I wish you all the best with your big steps.