I started my day this morning with a hot power yoga class at my favorite studio. I figured what better way to start a relaxing Sunday, especially after attending an all-day beer fest yesterday. Sweat it out! The teacher this morning was new to me, but he maintained the same message that this specific studio preaches, "Love yourself." That got me thinking that this message could be an excellent Sunday blog post.
The theme of love yourself, while cliche, is very appropriate for the average adult. We spend very little time loving who we are and double the time critiquing who we are not. This is true on a mental, physical, and professional level. "I'm not skinny," "I don't make as much money as I want to," "I can't believe I said that, I'm so dumb." The negativity is contagious & rampant in our lives. What happened to being grateful for who we are? If you can't love yourself, how are you every going to be happy in your life? Think about the things that matter, "I am employed," "I am healthy," and "I'm a good person." These are thoughts which help cut out the fluff that so often brings us down.
As I entered into my late 20s, I found myself being less occupied with those superficial negative thoughts. In my early 20s I would've been consumed with the superficiality of everything, especially looks. I spent more time critiquing my body & looks then I ever did just enjoying the young care-free look of my early 20s. It has been an interesting shift. I find myself being more comfortable in my own skin physically, and cutting out more & more of the drama mentally. I no longer occupy my thoughts with who said what, or how fat these jeans make me look. My focus has shifted to enjoying my life & the young professional I have become. Finding days to hang with my hubby & puppy, run a leisurely pace just to enjoy the weather, or get exactly what I want at a great restaurant not thinking about the calories. Overall to enjoy the life that I have worked so hard to create is what occupies my thoughts.
Along with loving yourself, my favorite yoga studio ties in another message and that is "thank yourself." This is something that as adults we NEVER do! And I mean never! When was the last time you thanked yourself for simply showing up to work? NEVER, and you should! You could've called in sick and skipped that day, but you didn't. If I had a "light" work out or didn't push myself hard enough I would beat myself up. Why not just thank yourself for simply getting in a work out? You could've skipped it all together. Hence the title of this blog thank me. It's time for us adults to start being grateful to the person who keeps it all together, me! This message during my yoga class really resonates with me and I find myself happier for it. If I'm having a bad day at work, or had a very complicated patient, instead of going to negative town I spin it around & say "Thanks, Ashley, for dealing with that complicated patient you did a great job." Thank yourself for doing the laundry, thank yourself for eating healthy, thank yourself for that treat of ice cream, thank yourself for finishing that stupid project your boss made you do. It doesn't matter what it is, but you should be grateful to yourself for the things you do every day. This week I want all of us to try and not only love ourself, but be thankful for the little things we do that make us who we are. I promise that it will help you enjoy your life more & help you to feel a little more confident in your own skin! It's a new month, start this month off being a little more thankful & loving to the most important person in your life, ME!
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