In early 2020, the rapid rise of COVID-19 forced gyms around the country to close. Home-workout companies like Peloton and Mirror took advantage of the vacuum, and memberships soared. Like many others, I signed up for a special promotional trial for a certain popular spin class company. Even though I don’t have a bike, I was able to take advantage of their library of yoga and bodyweight classes and continued my workout regimen at home.
This company (OK, it’s Peloton!) does a fantastic job of fostering a sense of community by giving “shout-outs” to participants during their live classes. Each Peloton user creates a “handle,” which is often a short phrase that replaces their actual name. Some of the handles are quite creative, and they range everywhere from witty, to inspirational, to descriptive, to random. Peloton instructors inspire their online community to keep sweating by recognizing milestones and first-timers, calling them by their handles:
“100 Classes! Welcome to the Century Club, BananaSplit!”
“I see it’s your first class, MommyLovesWine! Way to go!”
“DadBodBeGone, keep it up! This workout will shred your Dad Bod for good!
The handle that stopped me cold
The other day I was taking a yoga class and one of the handles jumped out at me. It was “StartingToLive.” For the rest of the class, I couldn’t stop thinking about that phrase. It made me wonder about the person behind it. The handle gave me the impression that this person had been sort of drifting through life until something dramatic happened to wake him or her up. In my imagination, this person embraced life’s lesson, whatever it was, and was now starting to fully live a life of abundance. (If you’re reading this, StartingToLive, send me an email! I want to hear the real story!)
My own internet handles have been super boring by comparison. I often take the lazy route and use my first name and last initial. More recently, I’ve come up with something slightly more creative by taking the first letters of my daughters’ names and adding “mom” to come up with LoLiMom (pronounced like “lollipop,” except with Mom instead of Pop…get it?) Creative, sure, but it doesn’t really say much about me, other than one of my roles in life: I’m a mom. But I’m also so many other things. How can a short phrase sum up my whole self?
I really pondered this question during one of my Personal Retreat Days, and I’m brainstorming some ideas for a new handle. I want to choose something inspiring that will keep me focused on who I’m telling myself I want to be.
What does your handle say about you?
If you have a handle, what is it saying about you? What do you want it to say? Are you unintentionally reinforcing a negative self-image, like one I saw recently called “NotSoHot?” (I think “HotterByTheDay” would be a more positive message!)
Take a good hard look at the words and phrases you say about yourself. Not just out loud, but in the quiet of your own mind. Are your words affirming or limiting? Our inner conversations have the power to become self-fulfilling prophecies. Notice what you’re bringing forth into your life by the words you choose.
The good news is, if you notice that your “handles” tend to be negative or even neutral, you can easily change them! During your next retreat day, spend some time brainstorming positive and inspiring messages about yourself. These don’t have to be how you see yourself right now — they don’t even have to be true! Instead, these handles should reflect something you want to see manifest in your life. Once you’ve chosen a new handle, put it out in the world! Use it when you sign up for a new internet subscription, or share it on social media with the Personal Retreat Day community. If I were a Peloton instructor, I’d give it a shout for sure!
PRD Activity Cheat Sheet:
1. In your journal, write down the phrases you tend to use when describing yourself
2. Brainstorm several positive, inspiring phrases that you want to define you
3. Choose your favorite phrase as your new “handle”
One more thing before you go:
Share your new handle with the Personal Retreat Day community by sharing it on Facebook or Instagram