What does the image of your future self look like?
How would you feel? What would you do?
I believe in the power of personal development. In fact, I am convinced that personal growth equals happiness. And that stagnation is regression.
Sometimes we get stuck in old patterns, because it has become routine to do things we are used to. We live in the same house, we have the same friends, we have the same hobbies, we eat the same food. It's a safe feeling that gives us a sense of security. There is nothing wrong with that at all. After all, we need a stable foundation as human beings.
Often, over time, we find out that some old patterns and ways of thinking are no longer naturally the best for us. Or that they no longer serve us.
I have had this experience myself, especially when I suffered burnout about 10 years ago. All those years before, I had not taken good enough care of myself. Others always came first and if there was any time and energy left, I would occasionally think of myself. Swallowed up by busy family life with 5 children, 3 dogs, my husband who was abroad half the month for work, housework and so on. It was a busy life and I felt I should be able to do everything myself. So I ran from place to place. I drove the children to and from school, sports clubs, play dates and the necessary visits to the doctor. While in between I cooked dinner, walked the dogs, did the grocery shopping and laundry. You know the drill. I was primarily mother and wife of, manager of the family, but I myself, as mentioned, came very last. I was not doing this consciously, but out of love for the others around me. It was important to me that they were doing well, because then I would also do well, I thought.
So it didn't!
After years of overextending myself and not taking enough time and space for me, things went seriously wrong. By now I had many physical complaints and was experiencing more stress than was good for me. After each long day, I crashed on the sofa in the evening, exhausted. I then felt I deserved a treat, which was usually something with lots of sugar and no nutritional value, which eventually made me feel worse and worse. I did exercise, but actually even too much. Thinking it helped me stay fit and relax my mind, but is was the exact opposite. Too much of anything is never good!
One day I came home after running, proud of my longest distance and fastest time ever, because I wanted to keep getting better at what I was doing, when my body completely collapsed. It was as if I had literally run into a wall. I couldn't do anything anymore. All my muscles, bones and joints hurt. My lungs were so painful that all I could do was cough and cry. I had simply become ill from my lifestyle, the fact that I was asking more and more of myself and smiling happily as if I could handle anything. But honestly, I was completely burnt out.
That burnout made me realise I needed to change course and learn new habits. Starting with taking better care of myself. Choosing what was best for me. Something I had never done before and found very difficult. It made me feel guilty. Like I was being selfish. Yet I persevered and chose to live up to the image and feeling of the person I wanted to be.
It has been quite a journey, in which I have of course had the necessary help. It has taught me to rethink, to give new meaning to the things that are really important to me in life, to let go of what no longer served me, to work on my mindset, because that's where it all starts. During that time, I also started changing my diet to feel better physically and mentally. The right nutrition is the best medicine. It can rebalance your body and it has a positive effect on your state of mind.
Neuroscientist Dr Joe Dispenza said: " Ask yourself, can I be characterised by a vision of the future, rather than the memories of the past..."
What you think and say makes all the difference. You are not your thoughts or what happened to you in the past. Emerge from those old patterns and ways of thinking and replace them with new ones. Describe and feel how the new "me" feels, what you do, how you look, what you eat, how you take care of yourself, etc.
If you want change, you have to do things differently. You cannot do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. Take a first small step and think about who you do want to be. Focus your attention on that and also change your behaviour pattern.
That may sound so simple, but it is not. I know from my personal experience that it can be difficult. But the outcome is so incredibly rewarding.
That's why I pay a lot of attention to mindset during the coaching process. Together, we work on creating your positive self-image to balance your life, weight and health.
You are worth it!
And when you are doing well, you radiate different energy and attract positive people and things in life. So what does the image of your future self look like?
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