When you get off on track on your wellness journey, it’s so easy to beat yourself up. You may be thinking to yourself “It’s almost too much to work and carry out our responsibilities while trying to stay as healthy as possible. Who has time to deal with emotional health?” It’s so easy to be hard on ourselves and use all-or-nothing thinking. We often internalize the pressure to look a certain way and follow a certain lifestyle. Whether we skip exercising due to a busy schedule or not eating well to feel our best, accept there are always detours. In the past, I didn’t realize how critical I was because this was my normal background noise and I considered it normal until I tracked how often these messages pooped into my head.
Self-compassion will motivate you far more than your inner critic. Life is full of twists and turns and we need to embrace our mistakes as learning experiences. If athletes and musicians have to practice and adjust, then part of everyone’s wellness journey will include challenges along the way.
What are some new ways to see yourself or your experience? Start with baby steps.
Mindful practice-Commit to a week of yoga or short meditation practice. This will help you reset and listen to yourself. Grounding yourself in your body helps clear your thinking and will give you greater awareness of yourself. Notice what kinds of things you say to yourself. Be gentle and kind to yourself.
Self-compassion-It’s hard to practice in the moment but start out by listing what you are already doing well. It shows that you are already making healthy choices in your life. It can be small such as you are well on the way to drinking more water or you are taking a longer walk from the subway. If you’re not sure where to start, you can always pat yourself on the back for having the intention to live a healthier life, starting from today.
Trying new habits takes time. It’s easy to get inpatient with yourself. Know that you will have momentary detours but you can always find yourself back on track again.
