This is more of a ramble today but it just came out so here we go.
Sometimes I think that the hardest part of being on a diet and exercise program or even trying to live a healthy lifestyle can be the pressure that we put on ourselves to be perfect. It is ridiculous and it seems to me that I am forever feeling guilty for eating this or not exercising enough and I want to say that we should all just stop it. The fact that you get up everyday and are trying to be healthy, trying to exercise, trying to make the world a better place (nothing to do with health but seems important to me) and really cognizant of your efforts is in itself an achievement. Why do we beat ourselves up over a cookie (okay so make that 6 cookies, a candy bar and a diet soda) when really we all just need to accept that once in awhile it is okay to fall down as long as we get back up. Ever since I was a teenager (probably younger) I've beat myself up over something utterly ridiculous. I'm never thin enough, pretty enough, smart enough, doing the right thing enough, and the list goes on and on and on and I say let's throw those thoughts out the window and accept ourselves for who we are. It would have to be healthier than constantly putting pressure on ourselves to be the ideal that we have created in our minds. It is great to strive to be more, to be healthier, to be more fit, to live a more positive life but it can't be healthy to get down on ourselves because we don't feel like we are doing it perfectly. To be able to accept yourself for you with all your imperfections has to be one of the most peaceful things that I can imagine. Our i mperfections are what make us special and unique. I'm going to go and appreciate my freckles (I was going to say cellulite but I'm not quite there yet and freckles seem a safer place to start) for a change. What about you? What will you appreciate about yourself today?
Sometimes I think that the hardest part of being on a diet and exercise program or even trying to live a healthy lifestyle can be the pressure that we put on ourselves to be perfect. It is ridiculous and it seems to me that I am forever feeling guilty for eating this or not exercising enough and I want to say that we should all just stop it. The fact that you get up everyday and are trying to be healthy, trying to exercise, trying to make the world a better place (nothing to do with health but seems important to me) and really cognizant of your efforts is in itself an achievement. Why do we beat ourselves up over a cookie (okay so make that 6 cookies, a candy bar and a diet soda) when really we all just need to accept that once in awhile it is okay to fall down as long as we get back up. Ever since I was a teenager (probably younger) I've beat myself up over something utterly ridiculous. I'm never thin enough, pretty enough, smart enough, doing the right thing enough, and the list goes on and on and on and I say let's throw those thoughts out the window and accept ourselves for who we are. It would have to be healthier than constantly putting pressure on ourselves to be the ideal that we have created in our minds. It is great to strive to be more, to be healthier, to be more fit, to live a more positive life but it can't be healthy to get down on ourselves because we don't feel like we are doing it perfectly. To be able to accept yourself for you with all your imperfections has to be one of the most peaceful things that I can imagine. Our i mperfections are what make us special and unique. I'm going to go and appreciate my freckles (I was going to say cellulite but I'm not quite there yet and freckles seem a safer place to start) for a change. What about you? What will you appreciate about yourself today?