The World Health Organization defines health as:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
I like this definition because it creates a holistic idea of what health and/or well-being can look like in your life.
... and yet, what does this actually mean in reality??
What does it feel like and look like for you to have physical, mental, and social well-being?
The truth?
It's different for all of us. What looks and feels great to me might not look and feel great in your body.
Which is AMAZING - because then you get to define it for yourself.
Unfortunately, it's challenging to get somewhere when you don't really know what it looks like, or if you're comparing your healthy to someone else's...
HINT!! It doesn't have to look like the Instagram influencer's version of healthy, or Hollywood's take on it, or even your sister or best friend.... it gets to look like YOURS.
Take the time to define it for yourself.
When you now where you're going it's so much easier to get there ✨
OK, START ME OFF THEN....
WHAT CAN HEALTHY LOOK AND FEEL LIKE?
Health is not about fitting into your 'skinny jeans'. Though not skinny jeans/skinny jeans, because the 90's are apparently back and now we're wearing a terrible (and pretty confusing tbh) mish-mosh of jean styles instead 🤷♀️
...... or drinking 8 glasses of water a day
...... getting a personal trainer
...... or even meditating a few times a week
These things are great if they feel good for you, but it goes much deeper than that. 'Healthy' isn't always physically tangible - like a number on a scale or a calorie count.
For sure it won’t be found on a diet. And it’s certainly not completed at the end of 30 days. Healthy is not an 'end goal' to reach; it's fluid, changing from day to day, even hour to hour. It’s a consistent commitment.
A constant coming back to yourself, over and over again.
Healthy might look like....
✨ Working to accept whatever image is staring back when you look in the mirror ✨ Challenging yourself to try new things and step out of your comfort zone; growth requires discomfort ✨ Eating what, when, and why YOU want to - not according to someone else's rules for what you should do ✨ Taking time for yourself and making time for others in a way that feels right for your lifestyle
✨ Setting and communicating boundaries
✨ Staying home in your jammies rather than going out with friends
✨ Finding quiet or alone time each day
✨ Not calling the toxic friend or relative back
✨ Recognizing inspiration and having the courage to act on it
✨ Listening to your body and trusting the messages you receive from it.
Give yourself the gift of understanding what ‘healthy’ means and looks like in your life. Your life today, not when you weighed 15 lbs less, when you were 10 years younger, pre-break up or before you had children. Your life right now. Exactly as it is. Once you know how ‘healthy’ shows up in your real life, you can more accurately assess how your daily thoughts and habits are affecting you - positively and negatively.
You get to choose which practices and beliefs to keep and which to re-imagine.
Awareness is power ✨
JOURNAL PROMPT
Grab a pen and paper and write down your thoughts...
✔️ What does ‘healthy’ look and feel like in your daily life - consider physical, mental, and social aspects of your life.
Get as specific as you can. Think: movement, food, sleep, work/life balance, time with friends and family, self-care, alone time, spirutal pursuits etc….
Perhaps think back on a time when you felt especially healthy - what adjectives would you use to describe the feeling - vibrant, energetic, clear-headed etc…
✔️ List 3 specific things that you would like to continue doing
Give yourself some props! What are you currently doing that is working for you? (ie daily walks with the dog, getting enough rest, staying in touch with friends etc...)
✔️ Then list 1 specific thing you can start doing RIGHT NOW to help bring about more of what you want in your life.
Some examples below:
I will move my body each day in the following ways ____.
Maybe a quick post-dinner stroll or game of tag with the kids.
I will check in with myself before, during and/or after eating to see how I'm feeling.
Oohhh....this is a good one! You would be surprised how infrequently we do this. Use this INTUITIVE EATING JOURNAL I created as a tool. Try for at least one day, more if you're up for it. Only you know how your body feels... we’re just not used to asking it.
I will do a social media cleanse. (One of my absolute favs!!)
We are inundated with messages about what our bodies should look like, how much we should weigh, fad diet how-tos, and filtered images of ‘real’ women. Unfollow the social media accounts that leave you feeling bad about yourself, and check out these BODY POSITIVE ACCOUNTS instead.
RECAP!
🔑🔑 So the KEY to choosing 'healthy' is to first know what it looks and feels like in your body and in your life - right now, today.
In order to find your 'healthy':
Get very clear on what 'healthy' looks and feels like in your own life (not your friend's, your sister’s or the woman on tv’s life, YOURS.)
What is working for you - acknowledge it. Write it down and continue doing it!
What is a single step you can add in to take it to the next level?
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. I can't stress this enough.
Nothing is ever perfect.
Nor should it be! Approaching this work from a place of openness, love, and understanding is far more effective than coming from a mindset of punishment, negativity and guilt.
Let me know how it goes.
PS ~ check out this video for more!
With so much love,
Carolyn
xx
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