Self-love is important because it helps you build a positive and healthy relationship with yourself. It helps you understand and accept yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses. So moving on from my last post I have embraced my challenge to myself, not too stretching haha! Shed a stone and love myself a bit more.
I have embarked on a great new routine, counting 1299 calories a day with the NHS app and the recipes are awesome too. Paid for two fitness apps and for now I am hooked and the intermitting fasting is relatively easy too. I am delighted to say I am 1/2 a stone down in 6 weeks so I have my rewards but I have found this new outlook on life is about so much more than just losing weight.
For instance Yoga, or Yogi as I affectionately call it whilst walking in the pouring rain towards the Brigg or my new found Yogi friends house. The yoga floor and environments are wildly different in each of the yoga studios. Well studio may be a little bit of an exaggeration, should we rephrase that as 'a space much bigger than my boat'. One space is pure, with an ambience of Feng Shui, underfloor heating and fabulous views. The other on the other hand, often has a little snail trail from the resident shelled gastropod, a trace of last nights before dinner nibbles left by the boys and many toys in the midst of the lovely squishy cushions. However, both studios offer a place of homely love, peace, and balance, the perfect environment to practice standing on your head with legs spread wide! OK not there yet but I can dream! I have learned that Yogi is a versatile practice that can be adapted to meet the needs of self love, flexibility and inner strength. This practice has become a special time for me in my day routine, time to create space for myself and where I cultivate a deeper appreciation of my life. I do my best through some odd positions and sometime the flow is more like a car jogging up the road as it runs out of fuel than the smooth transition it is supposed to be. I am embracing the awkwardness of feeling like a fish out of water and I often laugh out loud as I compare myself to a floppy noodle or a crab stuck on its back. I hold tight to this visual below, a vision of me being able to confidently practice Yoga on a sup board in the middle of Ardentrive Bay. Who knows it may become a Kerrera thing at sundown or even sunrise. Watch this space!!!
My Yogi friends and I make light of the challenges everyone faces in yoga, such as struggling to balance or accidentally farting during a pose. We laugh uncontrollably when we chant 'OMM' or whilst listening to Adriene our teacher for the session as she chats away sharing her thoughts as well as encouraging us to be authentic, love ourselves, and find what feels good. She has a southern american drawl and a lovely quirky and entertaining way of getting us to relax into each and every pose.
Never thought I would say this but I am even trying meditation. Sounds odd but I would like to be my own best friend. After all if you do not love yourself there is no room for anyone else to love you. Mediation has always seemed a bit too godly for me, but I have had that so wrong, as it is simply a place to be still, focus and feel compassion. Motivation by love and compassion is way better than being motivated by hate and fear. The latter was not working for me when it came to maintaining my motivation to change my body shape, although I have to be honest it is often my motivator for other things. I certainly hated what I saw in the mirror and feared feeling as my mum did about her body but the hate and fear motivation method waned quickly and so I am learning the art of self care and self love through meditation and it is a game changer for me on this occasion. I share a few quotes that I have taken into my meditation practice recently.
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Finding your place in the world can be a lifelong journey. Here are some steps that can help you along the way:
Discover your values and passions: What is important to you? What do you enjoy doing? Understanding what drives you can help you find your place in the world.
Explore new experiences: Try new things, meet new people, and challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone.
Reflect on your experiences: Take time to think about your experiences and what you have learned from them. Consider what you want to continue doing and what you would like to change.
Seek support: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your journey. Seek guidance and mentorship from individuals you admire.
Take action: Once you have a clearer idea of what you want, take action to make it happen. This may involve making changes in your life, pursuing new opportunities, or setting new goals.
Stay open and flexible: Life is constantly changing and your place in the world may evolve over time. Be open to new opportunities and be willing to adjust your plans as needed.
Remember, finding your place in the world is a personal journey and may take time. Be patient and continue to explore and grow as a person, and eventually, you will find your place and love yourself more.
Until the next time, be good to yourself xxx
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