Hi! Is the sun shining where you are today? Doesn’t that make it so much easier to get outside and get moving?!
Have you set a New Year’s resolution to be more active or lose a few pounds or eat better? How's it going? If you're having trouble sticking to your goals, maybe have a look at your motivation. Are you trying to get healthier for the sake of feeling better, having more energy, living healthfully longer? Or are you trying to "fix" something that you think (or society tells you) is "wrong" with you? I’ve been thinking a lot about self-compassion and how much nicer it feels to try to improve our health because we love ourselves and we want what’s best for our body and mind, rather than feeling pushed to make changes from shame or comparison or self-loathing.
Can you appreciate all the things your body does for you? And IF you decide to make some changes, what if you think of them as a gift to yourself (rather than a punishment)? As someone who has spent much of my life on a diet (starting at age 11!) or despising myself for NOT dieting and not losing weight, trust me when I tell you there is another way to relate to your body and your weight and fitness goals. And holy moley it feels SO much better to approach healthy eating and exercise from a place of self-love rather than self-hatred.
If you're wondering where to begin, start by paying attention to your inner voice and listen to how you talk to yourself. Do you speak to yourself the way you would talk to a friend who was struggling and needed support? If not, can you start doing this? It's a powerful first step to creating a more loving relationship with yourself.
I hope 2021 is a year full of health, happiness and self love for you. xo