The anti-diet industry seems to be really intent on getting you to slow down and take a break.
What a relief this can be after the brainwash of No Pain/No Gain thinking, right?! Some of us had been so convinced that unless we were always going/doing/accomplishing/burning/toning/trimming, we weren’t doing life right. What a breakthrough to be told that it is okay to chill out sometimes. Learning how important the balance of work to play is or the balance of work to rest is can be a game changer for so many of us who thought that in order to be successful, we must make ourselves push harder than we want to all of the time.
Getting the permission to slow down is fantastic if you are like many people: rundown, worn out, overworked and/or burned out.
Not everyone is physically rundown and worn out.
When we tend towards all or nothing thinking, the emphasis on “Slow down! Give yourself a break!” can feel like pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is innately “bad.” It is easy to get it twisted, when we have become accustomed to something only being Right or Wrong.
If you are able-bodied and your biggest physical effort most days is walking to and from the car, and you feel rundown and worn out, that exhaustion is mental and emotional. Getting into your body, using your muscles and your heart and your lungs and your joints to move, especially if you can do it outside- these are solutions to mental and emotional burn out.
What about when you aren’t rundown or burned out? Sometimes, you’ve got energy to spare. If you are bored at the thought of slowing down, it may inspire you to recognize that when you like yourself, you are able to be more productive.
One reason for deciding not to hate oneself anymore (besides that emotion feeling so yucky) is that everything is easier to do when you like yourself. When you feel good about who you are, it isn’t a drudge to do your daily tasks. It is easier to participate in life when you like who you are.
Have you ever seen a child open presents? The joy of new toys is invigorating! No kid ever asked to take a nap after they opened presents. Happiness energizes. When we feel good, we are motivated.
You enhance your relationship with yourself by writing. -Phil Stutz
For your consideration:
•How might feeling more accepting of myself affect my work relationships?
•What kinds of people want to be around someone who accepts herself, her body, and how she looks?
•If changing my body no longer contributed to items on my to-do list, what would there be room for on my to-do list?
These questions can be helpful to journal about, to talk over with yourself while you are alone, or to discuss with someone you trust.