Being a Smaller Size Will Not Make You Feel Bigger

Lately, I’ve really been contemplating why I do what I do, and where I can truly be of value to the women that I serve. And a few days ago, an idea really struck me. It gives me great joy to be a part of an individual finding and reaching towards their higher self. As we all know, it takes a good deal of self-reflection, mindfulness, self-discipline, and strength for an individual to uncover positive changes in their physique and/or health.

However, what I think people forget is that while health is a worthwhile pursuit, it’s just a means to an end. Health allows us to more whole-heartedly live our lives. We’re better able to participate in meaningful activities with people that we love. We’re able to more energetically accomplish goals and contribute significance to the world in which we serve. We’re more equipped to have peace in our hearts and quiet in our minds when our bodies aren’t screaming with inflammation and disease. And all of these elements contribute to feeling the pure joy of a life well lived.

However, I’m becoming more acutely aware that there are driving forces towards wrongly making us believe that health, or in this case really, physique, is the end goal; is the joy. There are so many of us out there who have unconsciously bought into the sensation that a perfect figure, or just a better figure, will bring us happiness. I know that when we read it out loud it can sound ludicrous, but I’m telling you that each one of us have identified with this feeling to some degree at one point or another. If it’s not physique-related, it’s another extrinsic factor. Have you ever consciously or unconsciously spoken these words to yourself?….

“When I get the promotion, I’ll be happy.”

“When I get married, I’ll be happy.”

“When I get a new home, I’ll be happy.”

“When I have ____ dollars, I’ll be happy.”

“When I have success with _____, I’ll be happy.”

“When I lose the weight, I’ll be happy.”

What I’m perhaps most disappointed in realizing this revelation is my personal contribution towards instilling and promoting this fallacy. Even my current Facebook banner is challenging you to get in summer shape. Shame on me for preying on your insecurities. I’ll get that changed in the coming days.

But for now, let me be that friend who tells you straight. You’ll be sorely disappointment if you buy into the notion that acquiring any of these goals, no matter how worthwhile, will give you anything more than fleeting pleasure. You getting down to your goal weight is not really going to change all that much in your life. No one who is of any significance is going to love you more. You will not acquire financial independence because you’re in smaller jeans. If you are feeling a sense of inadequacy, of not being enough, being a smaller size will not make you feel bigger.

If that last paragraph isn’t a marketing botch, I don’t know what is. However, what I want women to understand is that though tightening up your abs isn’t really going to change your life to any real extent, the process of any transformation, physical or not, does bring joy, if it has meaning behind it.

It’s my hope that we all transition from the thoughts of becoming a smaller being into becoming a bigger being. I want to give the encouragement and support for us all to take up a little more space in the world, not less. It is where challenge and meaning collide that we find joy; in the growth towards becoming an even more significant source of light and power….this is where we find our bliss.

So if losing a little weight will help you build a bit more confidence to enjoy yourself jumping off the high dive this summer, then I’m on board. If getting yourself in better physical shape will help you feel not so tired so you can better engage with your family after a long day, then I’m energized. If you want to feel better so you can live, love, give, and become better, then I’ll drink to that elixir. But let me also say, that it’s the habits that you choose, more than the weight loss itself that will allow you to acquire the confidence, discipline, energy, and strength you seek. The joy, my friend is in the journey. There’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s the moment that’s gold, and too many times we’re missing out on the fullness of that moment by wishing our bodies looked a different way in it.

Let’s all get stronger for the sake of getting stronger. Let’s challenge our bodies because movement helps make us feel more alive. Let’s nourish our bodies because good food makes us function better. Let’s stop stressing out because we’re all going to die anyway and being an emotional wreck is not the legacy we want to leave behind.

I do want you to get in summer shape. Not so much because you’re not good enough the way you are, but because I know that you’ll feel a whole lot better if you start taking better care of yourself. Start today. Take me up on these free workouts to get you moving. I’m calling the package – HIIT Like a Girl – 6 FREE High Intensity Interval Training Workouts to Punch Out Winter Pudge. Just click the link for more info. I’ll be checking in on you to see how you get along.

XO,

Erin