Motivational Monday: Assess the Self-Hate Clutter

This Motivational Monday post is dedicated to you. Yes, that’s right. You!

Ladies (and dudes, too), it’s time we get serious about what real inspiration looks like.

 

I know there are Instagram and Tumblr accounts dedicated to fitness inspiration. Not to mention the magazines. And the Pinterest boards. And the Twitter and Facebook pages. And the YouTube videos.

I’m sure we’ve all fallen for it at one time or another.  The airbrushed pages in the ads and magazines. The unattainable “role models”, because even the models don’t look like that in real life. We all know it’s an illusion created by Photoshop.

And remember, these people are paid to look good. Seriously. They spend hours a day with personal trainers and stylists, and eating perfectly proportioned meals prepared by their chefs.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I am NOT hating on celebrities, actresses, models. This post is NOT about thin-shaming, fat-shaming, fit-shaming, or bullet journal-shaming. Or any shaming whatsoever, at all.

Our bodies are all unique and wonderful. Every size. Every shape. Every weight.

But think about it. When was the last time a fitness magazine or a catalog actually made you feel good about yourself? I mean, really?  (Bless Athleta for inclusion of all shapes and sizes recently, but wasn’t there backlash? Even if someone attempts to bring in good things to arguably questionable sources, the rest of society yells, “We don’t like THAT!”)

UGH.

I think it’s pretty natural to end up feeling terrible about yourself after looking at all this so-called “inspiration.”

But yet, we tend to keep coming back for more. Why? Why do we continually torture ourselves? It’s not accomplishing anything positive.

So, here’s an idea. What if we just got rid of it all? (Except Swim Bike Mom… I mean, of course).  🙂

I mean, what would really happen?

We have talked about this all weekend in our Swim Bike Fuel group.  The art of letting go, getting rid and chucking the things that “aren’t meant for you.”  And that can be some really “small” things that cause “big” harms.

Toss the beauty magazines. Unfollow the Twitter accounts that constantly tweet out the “5 foods to never eat.” And the pins that claim you can lose 15 pounds in three days. Toss, unfollow, remove. Entirely.

Because, let’s face it, we already “know” what we need to eat, and how to stay strong. That is not the issue, as we uncover time and time again.

If we clear our minds and eyes of this clutter, what would happen?

I bet we’d be on a better path to remembering some things… importantly, we’d start to remember what real bodies look like. The un-airbrushed versions. Weat least be in a place to begin to appreciate our curves and muscles for what they are. And for what they do. [Which is a sh*tton if you really think about it.]

Our bodies are capable of such miraculous things.

Swimming. Biking. Running. Repeat. AND MORE.

Let go of the rules, the expectations, the perfect body picture. Embrace the ah-maz-ing body you have—right now—-no matter what it looks like. Because the fact that you are upright with a beating heart and deep breath is a miracle in itself.

It’s time to unclutter our lives, and work on building ourselves up.

Triathlon is made of some of the most amazing people. People who’ve overcome the odds. Athletes who’ve fought through the hardest of times. And for many of us, the triathlon community has been our tribe. Triathlon  is our tribe!

Let’s be our own inspiration. Let’s stop comparing ourselves to others and just strive to be the best versions of ourselves.

Me Versus Me (only!)

Let’s let go of the self-hate and start practicing more self-love.

“Well, Meredith, that’s easier said than done.”

Yes, you are right.

But it has to start somewhere. And that somewhere starts with what is between our ears—and what we allow into our heads.

Today, if you can’t break out of the negative headspace, just take a Post-It, and write these words on it.

I am strong. I am relentless. I am amazing.

(Or pick three things that YOU want to say to yourself. Three things that YOU want to believe.) Then repeat these words five times in a row, (at least) three times each day.

Personally, I like to pick a mantra like this and repeat it during an entire run or swim. But at a minimum, five times in a row, three times a day.

Summary: Pick your mantra. Repeat religiously for a week. And assess how you feel in a week. (You might be surprised at what this small little, no-time-at-all exercise does for you.)

What are some of the best ways that YOU have found to “unclutter” your life to get rid of the nonsense and start working on the best version of you? What is YOUR mantra?  What has helped dig you out of the depths of the negative self-talk?