Even as a Health Coach I struggle with the temptation to want to fit in and make the most of myself.

The temptation to be “the very best version of me”. Perhaps especially because I’m a Health Coach. But helping people reach their health goals and create new habits and routines is my job.

Holding a vision for others while they do the hard work of growing is what I do.

So sometimes the lines can get blurred when I take a look at myself and what I want to change or create. Sometimes I can create more pressure to be something I’m not, rather than accepting myself completely as I am…right now.

 

hype

We can all agree that there is too much hype around January 1st.

When I take a peek at Facebook, everyone seems to be on board with a new loving, intentions-based approach to goal setting.

But secretly, I wonder how many of us are still getting hung up on wanting to make lofty goals for the new year? How many of us are still creating that pressure to be something new and different now?

Today as I’m writing this, we’ve almost used up all of our January days and we’re poised to tap into February. So I wanted to press the pause button for a moment and take some time to encourage you.

New beginnings happen everyday. Not just every year. But actually every moment too.

This is still a new year, and you still have time to create the changes you desire. So let’s think of our lives like a story. What was your story in 2015? What was it yesterday? Are you still living in an old story?

Maybe its time to grab the pen and write a new story for yourself.

 

Words Create Stories

We write our story through the words we use moment by moment.

The words we use both in speech and thought are powerful. Powerful enough to build up or to destroy. If you’re anything like me, I have a long standing habit of using words to prod myself. Not build myself up.

For some of you, what I’m saying rings true. For others it may not. And that’s OK. I want to speak to those of you who are struggling with enormous amounts of negative self-talk. I find that during the transition into the New Year, there’s simply so much pressure to change, that in fact, we do the opposite of change.

We stay the same.

The less we change, the more our inner task master comes out. The self-talk becomes punishing rather than inspiring.

And how far can you really go without inspiration? Not very far if you ask me.

 

Write a new script

I’ve written a lot recently about stories, my story, and why you should tell your story.

This time of year inevitably provides an opportunity to script an entirely new story with new words and new definitions. And maybe even a few new characters. It’s an exciting time but it’s also intimidating.

The words we use to define our unique life experience literally create our stories, day by day, whatever those words may be. So the lesson becomes clear pretty fast – be careful what words you use to talk to yourself.

For so many years I have lived under the lie that “I can’t” and “I won’t”. < < < OLD STORY.

I’ve struggled with the confusion of wanting to live and breath art and also wanting to listen to the people out there “makin’ it big”. Are the two mutually exclusive? Maybe? Maybe not?

But there is a definite industry being fashioned around the sole idea that we can and should do everything in our power to be the best version of ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, that’s admirable.

But at what point do we sacrifice peace for the chaos of forced change?

 

be true to yourself and the change will come naturally

As a Health Coach, I believe that true health comes from remaining true to oneself.

Here’s what I mean, if you don’t remain true to yourself you create dissonance. Dissonance is a lack of harmony; a lack of congruency.

Without self-love and self-awareness we really can’t make choices in harmony with our true beliefs, desires and values.

Weight gain, health issues, depression, no inspiration…all come from not being true to who you really are. Who are you really? You are a child of God – you’re meant to shine. Life doesn’t have to be complicated (at least not more complicated than it already is).

My big lesson from the past 365 days has been to “keep it simple”. The only way I am learning to do this is by seeing how chaotic my life and health become when I complicate and lose touch with who I really am.

 

Flip the Script

I’m also learning : one day at a time : that the greatest gift I can give to the world is to BE ME.

Not someone else, not a version of myself that I’m marketed into being, not a “better” me, or a more successful me. I am to be me…with all my flaws, passions, scars and talents. Why should any of us play it small?

Huh?

Many of us as children where made to believe that we didn’t have permission to be our adorable selves. If we were – bad things happened. But guess what? We all lose when you’re not you. Fitting in is overrated.

Are you forcing yourself to be something that you’re not? Are you ignoring a talent that you long to share? Why are you waiting?! Why have I waited? I’m not waiting anymore.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks.

I don’t know how it will work out – I only know that it will. Because I know that God has given each of us unique talents not for our own pleasure alone – but so that others can benefit too. Do not hide your life and your light anymore. No more. I’m wishing you and myself all the freedom to be who we’re meant to be this year: artists, cooks, singers, seamstresses, temptresses, writers and warriors, painters, farmers and growers, mothers and fathers, do-gooders, visionaries and the like.

happy happy new year!

What words do you want to use to create your story this year? What about just for today? What will your word be to yourself right now? Tell me in the comments below.