Lessons on Wellness
We live in a world of instant gratification. So when I tell clients they'll have to change 90% of their current lifestyle habits and expect to focus on a year of wellness before reaching that specific goal, I'm met with shock.
"A YEAR?!"
Yes, a year, and sometimes longer. You'll see great progress along the way, but for the most part, slow and steady. This is a lifestyle change.
If you are working to heal, improve, or grow in anyway - instant will not get you there. Sure, you can get that instant gratification of weight loss with a fad diet, a 30-day workout routine, and/or some expensive "supplement," but the results won't be sustainable or long lasting. In fact, in the long run, it'll do you more harm than good on a cellular level.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that's the truth. I'm not paid to lie to you, I'm here to be honest and to help you. So let's run through a crash course on wellness.
1. Time
Healing from years of poor and/or extreme lifestyle choices takes time. I tell clients, it took you "x" amount of years to get here, it'll take at least half of that to heal yourself fully."
Not only does it take time, but you also have to make time - to move, to cook, to meal prep/plan, to practice mental/emotional health.
It's the one thing none of us seem to have enough of, but I can assure you that the hour or more you spend scrolling instagram from your couch - well, you could be walking outside instead.
I ask my clients to commit to 15-20 minutes of "body time" a day in the form of myofascial release and spinal/postural exercises, and many simply "can't" do it. Meaning, they can, they just don't, because if it's not a priority, it doesn't happen.
I've been guilty of it it too, resisting the things that make me feel better, move better, function better. An odd concept to overcome, but making time is a priority and being ok with no set timeline to heal are crucial points to wellness. Prioritize and patience are key.
2. Consistency
This one follows time because we have to be consistent.
We all know the quote, "we are what we repeatedly do." Therefore, our habits make up our health, so consistently doing the things - cooking for yourself, moving daily, spending time with your body, being aware of what you consume (physically and mentally) - will add up to a healthy life over time. Especially if you maintain these habits on the weekends.
3. Grace
"Grace" is what I say to myself when I need to let myself or others off the hook. Grace upon grace upon grace. We are human, and we will fail, we'll fall off, we'll have a crappy life experience and it will throw us off our game. Grace upon grace. Don't dwell. Dust yourself off, give yourself a hug, get back on.
Perfection isn't attainable - gulp. So get ok with starting over, starting fresh, and trying again tomorrow. The less negative self talk, the healthier the body.
4. Gratitude
At the end of the day, be grateful.
Your body has been doing ALL. THE. THINGS. to keep you upright. Don't berate it, beat it up, or force it into smaller pants. Give your body the gratitude it deserves.
The body is a miraculous thing and will always keep you alive before letting you fall - it fights like hell for you. Be thankful that it never gave up on you, be thankful that it's still here fighting, give it what it's asking for, and then it'll show you what it can really do.
Achieving overall health - mind, body, and spirit - requires work, but the progress along the way, the way you will begin to feel, and what your body can do, will always be worth it.