Behind the Posts: How I’m Learning to Human Better
I used to think that having more on my plate would automatically mean feeling more overwhelmed. Balancing different parts of my life never felt like something I was particularly good at. As a result, the idea of adding something new to my routine made me anxious before I even started.
Hi, my name is Samantha! I am currently studying public relations and strategic communication at Southern Methodist University, with a minor in psychology, and I am interning in communications at Human Better, helping to create programming and content that will appeal to 20-somethings like me. I am also training to become a comprehensive pilates instructor through a 450-hour program. The last part is something my younger self would likely have a hard time believing.
In high school, I did not play many sports. You could actually probably say I was anti-sports, as I would do anything I could to figure out a way to get out of my sports requirements. When I started wanting to get into fitness, I did not really know where to begin. I had spent years telling myself that I was not an athletic person, and so that sort of became a part of my own identity.
Eventually, after countless times of signing up for classes and canceling, I took my first Pilates class. I could not have known that this would lead me to discover such a passion. I just wanted to try something new.
That one class started a ripple effect. I found something that I truly enjoyed, and so that gave me a reason to keep exploring different areas of fitness. Over time, my curiosity became a full-blown love and lifestyle. I now cannot imagine my life without moving my body almost every day. Not only did it help my physical health, but the shift in my mental health has been extremely positive.
That one class started a ripple effect.
If I had never shifted how I talk to myself from “I am not someone who is athletic” to “I have not found the movement that I like yet,” I may have never changed my own life. Now, I have decided I want to become an instructor myself to help others see how movement can be healing for both their body and mental health, without having to be the best athlete in the room to enjoy it.
At one point, the combination of instructor training, an internship, and finishing school would have overwhelmed me just by imagining it. What has surprised me about the last few months is that I actually feel less stressed because I am working toward things that I care about. My schedule may be fuller, but I feel more connected to what I am doing.
My schedule may be fuller, but I feel more connected to what I am doing.
This experience is something I come back to when I think about how I use Human Better’s frameworks in my own life. For me, this means taking action when I feel anxious or unsure of where to start. With fitness, the step was just taking one class. I did not need to decide whether or not I was going to be an instructor before walking into the studio to try it out. The possibility developed as I learned more about what I enjoyed and why.
I now try to bring that mindset with me into other parts of my life. When school, work, and training feel like a lot, I come back to what I am working toward, what Human Better calls my ‘Dreams’. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a practice I am working on, and there are definitely times when I still feel overwhelmed. However, I have a lot more confidence in myself and my ability to get things done because I have given myself the opportunities to see what I can handle.
I have given myself the opportunities to see what I can handle.
As I introduce myself to Human Better readers, this feels like an important part of my story. If I could go back and show myself how to implement these practices earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of anxious days feeling frozen by possibilities. My Pilates journey started with just one class. So I encourage you to try one thing that feels scary, because you truly never know how it could change your life for the better.
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Casey Seidenberg
is a coach, educator, and mentor who helps 20-somethings navigate the uncertainty of early adulthood, build confidence, and figure out who they want to become without needing to have it all figured out. With 20+ years of experience in marketing, communications, leadership, and coaching, Casey brings a practical, real-world perspective to helping young adults move from uncertainty to clarity and take ownership of their lives.
A Cornell honors graduate, Casey co-founded Nourish Schools, co-authored The Super Food Cards, and wrote a long-running Washington Post column on kids and nutrition. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, Nick, and is the mom of three young adults.
Email Casey at casey@humanbetteredu.org.