How many of you have your homes littered with failed attempts at losing weight or trying an exercise plan just guaranteed to take the pounds off and give us new bodies?
You know what I’m talking about:
- the dusty food scale stored on the top shelf of your kitchen,
- the specially designed measuring cups to count every morsel you’re eating,
- cookbooks and low calorie recipes torn out of magazines piled in a drawer,
- special elastic bands, so old that they’ve lost their elasticity,
- that piece of exercise equipment now draped with clothes in the corner of your room.
It’s embarrassing to look at this stuff because it’s a reminder of failure, a reminder of money spent and no results to show for it.
How many of you will mentally beat yourselves up for failing, for not being strong enough to lose weight or exercise regularly?
This negative self-talk puts us in a negative state of mind which may cause us to eat more, sit in front of the TV or computer, to comfort ourselves from the mental stress of defeat.
It’s time to forgive yourself and realize that you were not ready for the changes you were attempting to make. But wait, then how do you know when you’re ready?
You are ready when you are willing to change the story about yourself that you have believed all your life up until this point.
It boils down to this:
Are you willing to create a new story for your life?
*Forget the excuses, let go of the “shoulds”, move beyond the “if onlys” and ask yourself this one question:
Are you willing or are you not?
All the many things that go into any achievement can be reduced to one clear and simple factor. And that is:
Are you willing?
When you are willing to do what it takes, you’ll find a way. When you are willing, though circumstances conspire against you, you’ll get it done anyway. When you’re truly willing, the problems have a way of being transformed into opportunities. When you’re really willing, the disappointments have a way of making you even more determined.
If you’re willing, that’s great – go for it with everything you have.
Yet if you’re not willing there’s still a way to become so.
– Ralph Marston
For those of you reading this who are unwilling and know that, consider it a gift.
There is hope.
Step one is being aware that you are unwilling and yet you are seeking internal and external guidance (feel free to get my free gifts here) to get you to a place of willingness.
If you are aware of your resistance then chances are you are ready to ask for assistance. @laurafenamore (Click to Tweet!)
There are willing people out there to support you through this journey. I know – I am one of them.
I have been where you are.
And today, I no longer struggle with self-care, compulsive eating, lack of movement, hating the scale and hating myself.
But I did. For a long time.
Looking back – I have so much love and compassion for how people struggle.
More importantly from this perspective I see what is possible for you and I know that as you become more willing, doors will open, and people will appear to guide you through easily and effortlessly.
What action step can you take today to become more willing to feel better about your health and your body?
Please let me know in the comments below.
And please feel free to connect with me. I would be happy to support you.
Laura Fenamore, Body Image Expert, Coach and acclaimed Author is on a mission to help women around the world end the constant battle with their bodies and start adoring who they see in the mirror. Her approach walks students and readers through the heartfelt journey to self-love at any size or age by unlocking the secrets to a lifetime of emotional, physical and spiritual health. After overcoming a lifelong battle with addiction, obesity, and eating disorders, Laura released 100 pounds – keeping it off for more than 28 years. She chronicles this journey to self-love and health in her widely acclaimed book, Skinny, Fat, Perfect: Love Who You See in the Mirror. Learn more about Laura’s programs, or invite her to speak by visiting SkinnyFatPertect.com.
Image courtesy of Kevin Kosi.
