Many people say they don't care what other people think of them. People even tell others not to care about other people's opinions. Well, I haven't done any "official" research (maybe I will one day) but I don't think people are being truthful when they say they don't care about the opinion of others. After all, when someone says something positive about us, we have no problem accepting that opinion. Could it be that there is a bit of truth to the negative opinion... hmmmm...
More than a year ago, I wrote about a member of my church family making an unnecessary comment about my being bigger than my mother. I continue to say that was an unnecessary comment because it was something I already knew and accepted. I had just made a comment about my weight, 15 seconds before this person made the comment. However, there are times when someone says something that we don't like, don't want to accept, but know deep down in our hearts to be true.
I guess my point is an advisory one. Don't be so quick to reject a statement just because its not praise. It is true that we shouldn't let the opinions of others ruin our self esteem or inhibit our goals.Someone calling another person "stupid" or "ugly" is ridiculous and no person should believe such comments. However, as intelligent human beings, we know when someone is saying something we know is for our benefit but maybe doesn't feel good registering in the brain.
When it comes to my weight, I don't appreciate people calling me fat or saying things about how much bigger I am than I used to be. These comments are unnecessary because it's simply stating the obvious. However, when someone I love comments about my health or an outfitt looking less than flattering, it is hard to hear, but necessary.
I am challenging myself and my friends and family to think about the last time someone made a comment that you verbally rejected but internally knew had some merit. What made you resist? Fear of failure or worse, fear of success? Fear of loss of control? Fear of change? I know I've resisted for each of those reasons at one time or another. But, God has not given us a spirit of fear. If there's an area that needs change for the better, why not change it? The most important opinion is that of God and yourself. So, step it up; not for the sake of others but for yourself!
**********************************************************************************
By the way, since this is a fitness blog, I should mention that I had my first training session in more than a year with my friend and personal trainer Trinity of Train with Trin, LLC today! My body resisted, but this is one time resistance is not going to win! Can't wait to share the results with everyone!
Loving myself enough to accept the truth,
Tash
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Divine THINtervention
Everyone who has known me for more than 5 years knows that I used to be thin. If you've known me for more than 10 years, you've seen the drastic change in my weight. Now, I'm not so vain as to think that people sit around talking or thinking about me, but I know at least 2 of my friends/aquaintances have walked away thinking "Dang, I didn't think Natasha would be that big" or "What happened?"
If I'm being honest with myself, I have asked myself "what happened" hundreds of times over the past 10 years. There are some obvious explanations such as poor diet, sleeping and exercise habits. There are also some less visible explanations that I've illuded to in previous blogs. To put it bluntly; things have happened in the past four years that have drained me mentally and spiritually and have manifested physically.
Let me take the liberty of saying that counselors and mental health professionals can be some of the worst self-caretakers. I have many a counselor friend who are wonderful with regards to helping others. We all say the right things and in most cases, we do the right things. But at times, we avoid some of the issues and stressors in our lives because we're busy analyzing and working through the issues in the lives of clients, family and friends.
What I've had to come to grips with over the last two years is that being a counselor does not mean that I am exempt from feeling sad or stressed. It also doesn't make me perfect with regards to handling stress. I will be the first to admit that I have mishandled some of the stressful things with which I've been faced in recent years. At times, I bottled things up. I poured myself into service work or issues my friends or family members have been faced with. I've gone on a few shopping sprees, and I've also done quite a bit of eating along the way. All of these "vices" are simply evidence of the fact that I must face the things that are going on, change the things I can and accept the things I cannot change.
There is a verse in The Bible that says "Faith without works is dead". This doesn't mean that I should get in the way of what God has ordained, but it does mean that certain things are going to require movement on my part. Weight loss and fitness is one of those things.
A couple of weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine whose life's work revolves around fitness and healthy living. She sweetly, yet bluntly reminded me of the goals I've set and the "good game" I've been talking but have yet to truly follow through with. She also reminded me that the choice is mine. She invited me to meet with her and ended by saying, "If you choose not to live healthy, that's on you". Talk about a reality check and Divine Intervention. You see the ironic, or shall I say divine, thing is I've been talking about going back to Weight Watchers or rejoining a gym or doing something to get back on track with weight loss. Though I've maintained my weight for a couple of years, I'm no where near what I should weigh and my body is starting to remind me in the form of health problems that my weight is unacceptable.
So in summary, I'm thankful. I'm thankful for the divine favor that has been placed in my life and the awesome relationship I have with God. The fact that He divinely places me around people and in cirmcumstances that push me to reach my potential is something I nor any of us should take for granted. Let us not wait until something catastophic or tragic such as loss of a loved one or job, financial stress, broken relationship or illness happens to listen to God and move. It is time to live by this simple model:
If I'm being honest with myself, I have asked myself "what happened" hundreds of times over the past 10 years. There are some obvious explanations such as poor diet, sleeping and exercise habits. There are also some less visible explanations that I've illuded to in previous blogs. To put it bluntly; things have happened in the past four years that have drained me mentally and spiritually and have manifested physically.
Let me take the liberty of saying that counselors and mental health professionals can be some of the worst self-caretakers. I have many a counselor friend who are wonderful with regards to helping others. We all say the right things and in most cases, we do the right things. But at times, we avoid some of the issues and stressors in our lives because we're busy analyzing and working through the issues in the lives of clients, family and friends.
What I've had to come to grips with over the last two years is that being a counselor does not mean that I am exempt from feeling sad or stressed. It also doesn't make me perfect with regards to handling stress. I will be the first to admit that I have mishandled some of the stressful things with which I've been faced in recent years. At times, I bottled things up. I poured myself into service work or issues my friends or family members have been faced with. I've gone on a few shopping sprees, and I've also done quite a bit of eating along the way. All of these "vices" are simply evidence of the fact that I must face the things that are going on, change the things I can and accept the things I cannot change.
There is a verse in The Bible that says "Faith without works is dead". This doesn't mean that I should get in the way of what God has ordained, but it does mean that certain things are going to require movement on my part. Weight loss and fitness is one of those things.
A couple of weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine whose life's work revolves around fitness and healthy living. She sweetly, yet bluntly reminded me of the goals I've set and the "good game" I've been talking but have yet to truly follow through with. She also reminded me that the choice is mine. She invited me to meet with her and ended by saying, "If you choose not to live healthy, that's on you". Talk about a reality check and Divine Intervention. You see the ironic, or shall I say divine, thing is I've been talking about going back to Weight Watchers or rejoining a gym or doing something to get back on track with weight loss. Though I've maintained my weight for a couple of years, I'm no where near what I should weigh and my body is starting to remind me in the form of health problems that my weight is unacceptable.
So in summary, I'm thankful. I'm thankful for the divine favor that has been placed in my life and the awesome relationship I have with God. The fact that He divinely places me around people and in cirmcumstances that push me to reach my potential is something I nor any of us should take for granted. Let us not wait until something catastophic or tragic such as loss of a loved one or job, financial stress, broken relationship or illness happens to listen to God and move. It is time to live by this simple model:
Praise, Pray, Push, repeat!
-TashMonday, April 2, 2012
A tall glass of truth!
So, first of all, let us state the obvious; I haven't blogged since 2010. The good news is, I actually weigh about the same. Well... I guess that's good and bad news. I definitely planned on being much smaller, but I'm not bigger. I'll take the bitter with the sweet I supposed.
Today I ran/walked 2 miles. I haven't done that in MANY months. It hurt. That's the truth. It is also true that it's going to continue to hurt for a while as my body adjusts to moving more and eating less. My most important truth is, I have walked/ran two days in a row, I'm down 2lbs, and I've lived to blog about it!
So, here's to the truth! It's kind of bitter, but the after taste is SWEET!
Back in the saddle...again!
~Tash
Today I ran/walked 2 miles. I haven't done that in MANY months. It hurt. That's the truth. It is also true that it's going to continue to hurt for a while as my body adjusts to moving more and eating less. My most important truth is, I have walked/ran two days in a row, I'm down 2lbs, and I've lived to blog about it!
So, here's to the truth! It's kind of bitter, but the after taste is SWEET!
Back in the saddle...again!
~Tash
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