When many of us think of wellness, we think of going to the gym, getting in a good workout and eating well. We think about how we look on the outside and how others perceive us. If we look well, then we must be well on the inside right? It’s a new year and many of you have put getting in shape on the top of your goals list. Oddly enough, today is Blue Monday (January 15, 2018), apparently the saddest day of the year. I had no idea that this was a thing until today. Hopefully, you aren’t letting the blues get the best of you. Don’t give up. I want you to succeed, I know you can.
Wellness is more than just looking good. It seems we are forgetting how important mental health is. As you embark on your mission to reach your goals I want you to know you can’t skip the most important part of the journey, self-work. Self-work is a daily practice that should be at the top of your list every year when setting goals for the year, goals for your life. If you aren’t well, how you feel on the inside, then it doesn’t matter whether or not you reach your goals. Part of self-work and self-care is understanding the parts of yourself that you need to confront. Understanding that it’s okay to not be OK even if you and your life may appear perfect to those around you. Firstly, please stop believing that anyone is perfect because you aren’t and this is more than okay.
Wellness starts within. I don’t care how fit your body looks or if you are living a life full of gold and dreams. I hope you know that nothing is ever as it seems and those that are truly living their best life will tell you that it’s work. It’s the kind of work that requires you to stop holding on to the lies you have been telling yourself. It’s the kind of work that requires you to sit with what you don’t like about yourself and either fix it if you can or accept it. It’s true, don’t be deceived by beauty, just like a thorned rose, myself and you, we have our thorns. Our thorns don’t define us but they certainly are there to remind us of where we have been and where we would like to go.
Don’t be ashamed to share that part of your wellness journey is dedicated to you finding the right tools for you to get emotionally fit and strong. Part of being emotionally strong is allowing yourself to be vulnerable. It doesn’t matter what people think of you, seriously! You have to love yourself enough to give your mind, your soul, the deepest parts within you what’s needed. So when you embark on a new path, whether it’s to get in the best shape of your life or it’s a new career path. You will understand whatever you didn’t fix when you started will meet you at your destination point.
People are always surprised when they meet people who seem to have it all but they aren’t satisfied. A lot of people criticize those who they think are living the dream life if they’re sad or depressed. It’s important to understand that success, of course, is component of happiness but it is not the key to sustained happiness. Sustained happiness isn’t the finer things in life or defined by how good you look. Sustained happiness is a continuous work in progress that starts with you and how you feel about yourself. The mental noise that is happening inside your head telling you that you aren’t enough, feelings of guilt, self-hate, regret, denial, the list goes on and on. It’s so important for you to pay attention to this because it’s preventing you from living your best life. It’s preventing you from celebrating your accomplishments when you get to the finish line. It’s time for you to get excited about life.
Your life will have many ups and downs and there will be times when you just want to give up. You will meet people who will make you question who you are and your beliefs. There will be lessons, so many lessons. While all of this is happening, I want you to pay attention to your mental health and how all of these moments that are happening in your life are affecting you. Seek help or counseling if needed. Don’t ignore these feelings. Get a journal and write it down. Journalling is quite therapeutic and will give you a safe space where you can let these thoughts out of your head out.
This year, I hope it’s your best year. Don’t forget to get your mind right because if you mind isn’t right the mental noise will begin to spoil everything you have worked for. Remember a healthy mind is a healthy body, the two go hand in hand.
