Tag: self-esteem

Willingness

Lack of willingness held me back for so long I really don’t know how I made it this far. I always had to have my way in order to be happy, and I didn’t know how to live life on life’s terms. I had to live life on my terms. I didn’t know there was any other way. I wasted so much of my life trying to manipulate people and situations to suit my own agenda. I was constantly struggling and fighting against the flow instead of working with it.

I just wasn’t willing to do the right thing. I wasn’t willing to be helpful to others. I wasn’t willing to do what it would’ve taken to make my life better because I thought it would be easier to try and change everyone and everything else.

I was dead wrong.

After becoming so sick and tired of being frustrated and angry all the time, somehow I finally managed to find the willingness to begin to transform my sick and selfish mind. I became willing to live in joy, to love and be loved. I became willing to let people in and to let people help me. I didn’t fight anymore. I became willing to take suggestions. I became willing to take into account other people’s points of view.

I became willing to do the work it was going to take to turn my life around. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been well worth it. And even though it hasn’t been easy, it’s been a whole lot easier than trying to fight and manipulate and argue my way through.

Before I could change my mindset, I had to become willing to change. I had to be willing to be honest with myself and others.

I had to become willing to do things I didn’t really want to do, but that I knew would good in the long run. I had to be willing to stop taking the easy way out to have things become easier in the long run.

I had to experience a lot of pain to get to the point of becoming willing. I caused a lot of pain too, and now I am willing to make amends for it.

I don’t know where I’d be right now if I hadn’t found the willingness to change, but I know it would be in a much darker, worse place than I am right now.

 

~Thanks for reading – LC

 

 

Feel Good, Look Good = Look Good Feel Good

silhouette photography of people near body of water
Photo by Bithin raj on Pexels.com

When I look good, I feel good. The reverse is also true. There have been many days where I know I didn’t look my best, but I felt good and it showed. Other people could see it and remarked how good I looked. I thought, “Really? I haven’t showered and I’m still in my grubby work clothes.” People notice.

On days where I don’t particularly feel good, (like when I’m stressed out, frustrated, and feeling resentful towards everyone and everything) but I manage to take the time to make myself presentable and look good, that shows too! And when I look good, it helps to make me feel better too.

The best way I’ve found, for me, to look good and feel good is to work it from the inside out. If you put a bunch of junk in your body, then junk is what’s going to come out. Same theory applies to what you put in your head. Aside from the occasional treats I allow myself, I eat healthy, whole foods. Not fast food or any pre-made microwavable stuff with ingredients I can’t pronounce.

I like to make large batches of food ahead of time to keep in the freezer so I can have something good when I’m in a hurry. I split it into smaller portions so I can pull out a little bit at a time.

==>Recipes

A good nights sleep is key to me looking and feeling good the next day. I organize my clothes I’m going to wear the next day as well as my thoughts. I have a plan in mind for the morning so I’m not scrambling around, grabbing whatever is convenient to eat and trying to rush out the door barely in time for work.

I do something good for myself first thing. I can’t be helpful to anyone else if I don’t first take good care of myself. And when I take care of myself on the inside, I can be fully present and more helpful to others. And being helpful to others also helps me feel better!

I take deep breaths and meditate while moving my body in a fluid motion trying to become one with the universe. Ebb and flow. I do some light yoga stretches. All this gets my blood flowing to my brain waking me up and clearing out any junk thoughts that might be floating around in there.

All these things make me feel good on the inside. I think of it as building layers, kind of like an onion, from the inside out..  When I feel good on the inside, it’s easier to look good on the outside!

Then I get myself ready on the outside.

I brush my teeth, do my hair, clean up and put my fresh face to the world. I put on clean clothes. I smile at myself in the mirror and tell myself “It’s going to be a great day!” (Even if I really think it won’t, I say it anyway. I fake it til I make it..)

When I leave the house feeling and looking good, inside and out, the world knows it, and I am better able to practice kindness to both myself and others, which ultimately benefits me in the long run!

I’m also particular about what I feed my mind. I rarely watch TV because it’s mostly junk. I prefer to read. And mostly what I read is uplifting and motivating. I try to build layers of good from the inside out. It’s helped me become a more helpful, productive, and positive person.

And I feel great!

~Thanks for reading – LC