Today, I am halfway through a 30-day fitness challenge. I like this one. It covers all the important points – stretching, resistance, light cardio and mindfulness – no equipment needed. For example, instead of weights, I use my own body for resistance. And while it’s challenging, it’s not so challenging I want to give up.
I’m not so young and fit as I once was, and so a very large part of the challenge for me is practicing self-acceptance, self-gratitude, and self-compassion. I’ve been reflecting on that a lot lately.
During my reflections, the thought occurred to me that it really begins with self-acceptance. So often, we live in the future, striving for more so that we forget to live in the present moment and recognize the achievements we have gained thus far. Self-acceptance is all about shifting the mind from the future to present moment, knowing that I am exactly where I need to be, I have everything I need at this moment in my life.
Self-acceptance helps me to feel good about myself, flaws and all. I can embrace all the facets of my being, without the need for judgment, without the need to fix anything. My self-worth is not based on any particular conditions, so I don’t have to change anything.
This is all so easy for me to conceptualize and then write about, and yet in real life it is incredibly difficult to put into practice. I often find myself in the negative self-talk loop: I’m weak, it’s hard to get up off the floor, I used to be fit and now I’m not … None of this is helpful, this I know. And I have a very busy inner dialogue, so it can easily get out of control.
Yet, as with anything, I can explore this negative self-talk with a bit of curiosity, and without judgment. These thoughts are just that – thoughts. They are not based in any kind of fact or truth of who I am. And so, I recognize them as soon as they come up, thank them for the lessons they provide and move on.
Just as I choose the words I use to speak to loved ones, I can carefully choose what I say to myself. Affirmations can help. Something like this: “I am doing enough, I have enough, I am enough.” I can also spin the negative into something positive: “I don’t think I can do this,” becomes “I’m going to challenge myself to do what I can.”
So, for this moment, I will practice self-acceptance. I will speak to myself with respect and honor. And because I believe in myself, I can support others in their own quest for self-acceptance.
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