I've been fighting with my body since I was in 4th grade, getting teased on the bus for being the chubby kid. Polycystic ovaries, infertility-- always feeling like my body did the opposite of what I wanted it to do, no matter what diet or remedy I tried.
After 5 babies and being one of the 30% of people who can't lose weight while breastfeeding and then turning 40 and the game changing again, well- I had this revolutionary thought: What if I just loved myself? Right where I am. No more stress about the numbers. No more feeling disgusted about my body. Working toward my goal, but not stressing about the timing.
What would that look like?
For me it looks like:
-Not cringing or stepping out of the pictures or worrying about how I look when my husband is capturing a moment with our family. Or averting my eyes when I see the pictures or videos.
-Showing my daughters that I'm comfortable in my skin and not ashamed of my body.
-Nourishing, moving, and strengthening my body for longevity and lifelong health and not obsessing over what the scale says.
-Getting to the bottom of root issues, and then loving myself as I work toward healing.
-Living in the moment and loving the season I'm in-- not wishing away to a time I felt better in my body.
-Giving myself grace, grace, and some more grace as I work toward all of the goals and dreams in my heart.
-Making small and attainable changes and action steps every day.
Can you relate? Maybe you're not on a health or weight loss journey, but I'm sure there's something going on that you wish was different, or would resolve or achieve itself sooner...
It's easy to get frustrated and blame ourselves over where we are and what we can't control. But what we CAN control is (and I'm sure you've heard this a million times, but it's still true!) our attitude and our actions!
Recently I was making a (what I thought was a very) valid claim to my husband that "it's so hard" to find the time to prioritize my passion for music because we have five kids and two businesses (two businesses that we manage AT HOME with five kids, might I add so you understand the validity of my claim!) He said, "I get it, but you always say that and I think it's time to change your language about it."
And he's right. Changing our language surrounding something is vital if we ever want to see change. I decided to sit down at my piano to practice for 10 minutes a day. I mean, I might not be able to sit down for 2 hours or even 30 minutes every day at this stage in my life, but I can find 10 minutes! Instead of saying, "it's so hard," I said, "I commit to sitting at my piano for 10 minutes every day."
So whatever it is-
your body, your health, your hobbies, your dreams, your goals...I have two questions for you:
1. What SMALL steps are you taking every day to get closer to "IT"?
We aren't talking 5 hours a day, we are just trying to move the needle. If it's 5-10 minutes, add that up over the year! If it's your health, just start! Get some labs done. Take a supplement, remove refined sugars and wheat, walk 5-10 minutes after your meals, take a great pro-biotic, drink more water. Just do one thing. Every day. Move the needle.
2. What are you SAYING about "IT"?
If you're saying, "It's too hard, I can't, there's not enough (time, money, resources, knowledge), it's always been like this and it's never going to change" then that's what it will be. It will be exactly like that and I promise it will not change. What if you started telling yourself, "I can do this for 10 minutes. I'm going to see changes. I'm figuring this out. I CAN learn how to do this. I am achieving my dreams"? Your brain is actually being re-wired as you make these statements.
READ.THAT.AGAIN.
YOUR BRAIN is being REWIRED when you change a negative thought to a positive statement. That means when I decided to change my statement from, "It's so hard," to "I can sit down for 10 minutes a day at my piano," I am rewiring my brain.
PSA though- your brain is going to be ticked at you for trying to rewire it. It REALLY wants to stay stuck in old patterns. They are comfortable and primal. Your brain thinks it's protecting you by preparing you for the worst case scenario. But you're smarter than your brain- well, you are your brain-I don't know how it works, but trust me, it does! You can control your thoughts and create new neural pathways in your brain, which will chart a whole new path for your life.
Isn't that amazing? As a Christian, I am daily in awe of the love and mercy of God, who saved me from my sin and gave me Redemption through His Son. But not only that, I have an opportunity to be renewed daily. To put my Faith to action by speaking LIFE.
Here's what the Bible says:
...you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. --Philippians 4:8 (MSG)
Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose. --Proverbs 18:21
Sometimes we reach places in our lives where it feels overwhelming. We wonder how we got here and it seems insurmountable to make changes. We wait for this cataclysmic event or some Pop-eye or ( am I dating myself here?), Red Bull energy to make all of these changes in our lives.
Just remember, sometimes the only things we can control are our attitude and actions.
-Take one small step today
-Speak life over your situation. ( change your language from negative to positive).
Make this commitment today, and by Christmas, you're going to be so happy you did!
Oh, and it's okay to love yourself where you are today because even if you're not where you want to be, you're still pretty amazing.
I believe in you.
XOXO,
Sara