• Meet Alida
  • Opt in Newsletter
  • Tower Garden
  • What is a Challenge Group
  • The Emergent Self Boutique
  • Inner Work
  • Contact Me

Just say Thank-You

10/30/2013

0 Comments

 
This topic is one that surfaces for me a lot.  I want you all to take a moment and think about it.....really think it through and determine if you are one of these people. 

For the longest time, as long as I can remember, I've never been good at accepting compliments, and that hasn't changed at all regardless of my journey!  I've been told numerous times that I need to learn to just accept compliments as people DO NOT need to give them, they are CHOOSING to give them.  My husband often reminds me that while I cut myself up constantly in the privacy of my own home, and often think that I leave it there, I DO NOT.......by dismissing someone else's compliment, you're also sharing your insecurities about yourself....not only continuing to cut yourself up and undermine yourself but also throwing the compliment they paid you back in their face.  

I want you to take a moment and think about whether or not you are one of those people.......do you say "oh thanks but I look tired" "oh whatever" "thanks, but I have a long way to go".  Any thanks but.......means that you're dismissing the compliment.  While you may think that what you're saying is a nice way of saying thank-you, its actually not (so I've learned).  It's a not so polite way of saying you don't believe what the person is saying and is also serving to perpetuate your self-doubt and diminish yourself.  How do YOU feel when you pay someone a compliment and they dismiss it? No matter your size, shape, personality etc., you are always deserving of compliments.  They are paid to you by someone who has taken the time to acknowledge something they admire or see in you.  Try really hard to just say THANK YOU - and nothing else.  JUST THANK YOU! I've been working really hard at this and it actually feels really great to do.  I always undermine what I've done....how far I've come....what I've accomplished (and many of you know me personally and can vouch for me.....I shrug of any compliment paid to me and undermine myself constantly) but I'm learning that this is just another step of the process that is called CHANGE.  

The next time someone pays you a compliment......think before you speak!  And if you're brave enough to share it with us.....when it does happen......share :)  I know that there are at least a dozen or more people in this group who can completely relate with me........

Many people think that because I've change so dramatically....I'm fit, I'm in shape, I'm "skinny" etc. that all of my self-esteem and body image issues go away.  I can assure you, THEY DON'T.  They simply change. (Now I have saggy, dead skin and struggle to feel comfortable when I'm naked for a whole new reason......I'm not sure that we are every completely happy with ourselves but goodness knows that we are healthier beings for the choices we are making every day that are helping us to love ourselves.)  Now you are told you're TOO skinny.  You're asked if you're starving.  You have trouble shopping in stores because you're too small.  You struggle at times to gain weight and take it personally when someone says "gosh you could eat a few pizzas" when you've been trying to gain weight.  This brings me to another sore subject for me - since I've traveled this journey.  We would never go up to someone and say "gosh you're fat" so why is it socially acceptable to tell a skinny person "gosh you're so skinny".  Society doesn't have a filter for this kind of thing does it?!  

Anyway, those are some of the subjects that I think of often and have private messages with people about on a daily basis......so I thought I would share as I imagine there are more of you out there who are also going through similar scenarios on your own.  

Think before you speak and put yourself in someone else's shoes......accept a compliment paid to you with gratitude and try to love yourself a little bit more every day.  


Picture
0 Comments

Transformation Tuesday

10/29/2013

0 Comments

 
Ahhh transformation Tuesday! 

There are so many components of this journey! So many facets that are so entwined they're virtually impossible to separate! Each piece of us, every decision, every thought, every action, every behaviour.....they combine to help create and shape who we are. Live today as best as you can. Remember your past and grow and learn from it and know that you're here now making healthy changes for you! 

Think about how have you changed since embarking on this journey? Physical transformations are visible to everyone, but the psychological and emotional changes, struggles, and challenges are often just as, if not more dramatic than the physical ones.  Think about what made it all click for you? Why did you decide that it's your time for change? What progress have you made to date? You're transforming mind, body, and spirit! Take a moment and reflect upon the positive changes you are making in your life.  

Happy Tuesday 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Perfectly imperfect!

10/20/2013

0 Comments

 

I don't want to live my life perfectly!  I couldn't do it if I tried!  What I do want to do is make mistakes....I want to go through the ups and downs and learn from them...the accumulation of experience makes me a better person! I want to take pride in my accomplishments and know that it wasn't always an easy ride!  Learn as you go and don't ever settle for anything less than what you deserve. Don't ever have regrets....have learning opportunities.  I would rather DO and make mistakes than do nothing at all!

Picture
0 Comments

BELIEVE

10/19/2013

0 Comments

 
Ever feel like you are busting your butt, really making a concerted effort to change your lifestyle.....making healthy food choices and working out almost every day......but you feel that your efforts aren't making a difference?! 

This is a very natural feeling to have, especially in the beginning stages of undertaking such a journey! It's SO SO important to remember that this is a process. You didn't get to this point overnight so you can't expect to have it all revert back overnight! The process of getting to where you want to be is WAY harder than the process that got you to the point that made you want to make changes! Throw away the scale! DO NOT look at the numbers! Look in the mirror and SEE the determination in your eyes. SEE into the depths of your soul, to the YOU that wants this MORE than anything else right now. Pay attention to how you FEEL. Do you have more energy? maybe not right now because you're still getting used to the extra exertion every day, but again, it's part of the process! BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS! This will not happen overnight! The days that you feel really down simply serve to help you realize just how badly you want this change! 

Remember at the heart of this journey is YOU! YOU who WANTS this! YOU who NEEDS this! YOU are WORTH it! Every little bit of it! Its going to be HARD.....if it wasnt then everyone would be doing it! It takes a special kind of determination and belief to see a journey through to a set goal! ACHIEVE IT! 

I BELIEVE IN YOU.......ITS YOUR TURN TO DO THE SAME!
Picture
0 Comments

JUST BE YOU!

10/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Motivational Monday! This journey is all about being the best YOU that you can be! While is it human nature to compare yourself and your goals against those of another, this is not about THEM! We don't know others' stories, but we can learn and grow from their shared experiences!

Set your OWN goals and aspire to be a better YOU every day! Stay focused and determined. Persevere through the tough times so you can relish in the joy of the aftermath! Lets keep encouraging each other team! I'm incredibly proud of the accomplishments being achieved in here! Lets keep changing lives!
Picture
0 Comments

We ALL have a STORY - Perspective

10/7/2013

0 Comments

 
To strengthen the muscles of your heart, the best exercise is lifting someone else's spirit whenever you can.
- Dodinsky
It's Motivational Monday!

I want you all to take a moment and think back to a time when you saw someone who appeared to have a body or a life that you want/wanted! Think about how you felt in that moment....envious, hatred, inspired, angry, motivated, sad, happy, depressed, anxious, jealous....

Now take another moment to think about why you're on this journey!  Think about how hard you're working...day in...day out...to push to reach those goals!

Now think ahead...to the day that you FINALLY reach that goal....how happy you are! How relieved you are!  How proud you are!! YOU know how hard you worked to get there! YOU know the sacrifices you made to get there! YOU know the emotional, psychological, and physical exhaustion that was involved at times along the way!  Isn't it great to relish in those feelings. To truly be happy for yourself!

Now think back to my first point in this message....where you saw someone who had a body or life you aspired to have....and no matter what feelings you may have had in that moment....I want to you think about the other person...and just how hard they may have had to work to get to the place that they're in!

Everybody has a story...maybe next time, when you are in a similar situation...try to put the shoe on the other foot. If your first instinct was to feel negatively about that person.....turn it around and feel wonderment, amazement, appreciation, congratulatory, and celebratory for them!  They may have had to sacrifice a lot for what they have.....or for how far they've come!  We all deserve what we have when we put the blood, sweat, and tears into it.

Just my thoughts for today!
Picture
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Diet
    Inspiration
    Journey
    Motivation
    Nutrition
    Why Should I Join?

    Alida Steele

    Woman - Wife - Mom, with a passion for health, fitness, and helping others!  

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.