I went into this month thinking it would be an easier fasting challenge than last month. Positivity is a mindset… all you need to do is change your perspective when challenges arise... right? SO MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE. What I loved most about the past month was not so much the work I put in to actually fasting from negativity, but the amount I learned about myself—how I truly view myself, how I react to challenges at work and on the track, and how much negativity I truly do saturate myself in throughout the day. Instead of overwhelming myself, I decided to make one simple change: When you want to criticize, say a prayer of thanks. I’m going to use body image as an example. |
I’ve been pretty open throughout the past few years about my struggles and challenges when it comes to body image, body composition, and athletic performance. Since becoming a competitive runner in high school ten years ago, I’ve fell on many parts of the disordered eating spectrum: from restricting my diet to achieve a low body fat percentage, to binge/purging as a desperate way to put weight back on. I’ve scrolled through social media feeds, envying the bodies of models and elite athletes, constantly tweaking and "improving" my diet, always looking in the mirror with an eye of improvement rather than an eye of love.
This kind of mindset is EXHAUSTING. It's mentally draining, and more than anything, it sucks the positivity and love right out of your life. The time spent counting macros and calories, the constant sluggish and fatigued feeling, removing yourself from social situations that involve food... let me tell you that IT IS NOT WORTH IT.
While I’m in a very healthy place right now with my fitness and weight, these body image challenges still continue to plague me. So, as a way to combat this body image negativity throughout the month of February, every time I wanted to criticize my body or my image in any way, I instead said a prayer of thanks:
“Dear God, thank you for giving me a body that is able to compete at a high level in triathlons. Thank you for giving me two arms, two legs, and letting me be injury-free for over five months. Thank you for creating me in your Perfect Image. I am beautiful, and I am worthy.”
For anyone that struggles with body image, this prayer has helped me tremendously. It’s allowed me to instantly turn my negative thoughts into positive ones. It’s allowed me to practice being thankful for what my body can DO rather than constantly focusing on what it looks like. But more than ever, this positivity has sparked JOY back into my day.
Now imagine applying this to EVERY area of negativity! Next month, while I fast from alcohol, I am going to ignite my thoughts at WORK with prayers of thankfulness. After work, I'll move to competing. Then to my social life. Etc, etc.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE :)
M A R C H : A L C O H O L.
This kind of mindset is EXHAUSTING. It's mentally draining, and more than anything, it sucks the positivity and love right out of your life. The time spent counting macros and calories, the constant sluggish and fatigued feeling, removing yourself from social situations that involve food... let me tell you that IT IS NOT WORTH IT.
While I’m in a very healthy place right now with my fitness and weight, these body image challenges still continue to plague me. So, as a way to combat this body image negativity throughout the month of February, every time I wanted to criticize my body or my image in any way, I instead said a prayer of thanks:
“Dear God, thank you for giving me a body that is able to compete at a high level in triathlons. Thank you for giving me two arms, two legs, and letting me be injury-free for over five months. Thank you for creating me in your Perfect Image. I am beautiful, and I am worthy.”
For anyone that struggles with body image, this prayer has helped me tremendously. It’s allowed me to instantly turn my negative thoughts into positive ones. It’s allowed me to practice being thankful for what my body can DO rather than constantly focusing on what it looks like. But more than ever, this positivity has sparked JOY back into my day.
Now imagine applying this to EVERY area of negativity! Next month, while I fast from alcohol, I am going to ignite my thoughts at WORK with prayers of thankfulness. After work, I'll move to competing. Then to my social life. Etc, etc.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE :)
M A R C H : A L C O H O L.