Mar 10
24
I’ve been thinking lately about positive influences vs. negative influences. For me, a negative influence can be one of those unrealistic weight loss commercials. I’ll just be sitting there watching my favorite TV show and BAM during like every other commercial break there is some commercial about how eating this diet meal or buying this specific green tea weight loss formula will help you trim down and fit into your old skinny jeans.
Now, I am definitely someone who puts a lot of emphasis on being healthy. I absolutely LOVE working out and eating well. Staying hydrated is one of my very favorite things to do, and I honestly feel sooo much better when I know I am taking good care of my body–physically, mentally and spiritually speaking. Those instant weight loss commercials really just get on my nerves and sometimes even put those thoughts in my head that tell me I’m not “skinny enough”–which damages me on a deep level (but the commercial itself almost never has anything to do with true quality of life). The diet commercials I see the most seem to be advertising an unrealistic and often unhealthy jump in weight for the sole purpose of looking good or being your husband’s trophy wife. ICK!!! Personally, I think that’s about as skewed and stupid as priorities can get. Looking your best is definitely important, don’t get me wrong, but I think the real reasons behind looking better should be more in line with being healthy and taking care of yourself. I have this saying, “it’s ok if I have shallow reasons for doing something, as long as I have the deep reasons for doing it too.” My point in telling you that is to say that if you want to look good at the beach or in a dress you’ve dreamed of wearing, that’s perfectly fine, as long as that’s not the only reason you’re doing it. I totally think it’s nice to look good, but I think it’s really important to make sure you’re not degrading yourself in the process, which to me is what so many of those commercials do to people.
What I’ve learned thinking on this is that there will always be those “weight loss commercials” in our lives–the things that seem to come out of nowhere and totally degrade and belittle us away from the amazing people that we are. There will always be things that you can compare yourself to, whether it may be a co-worker or model or movie star or bargain shopper, whatever gets to you, and it will suddenly seem as if you are no longer good enough, no longer skinny enough or smart enough or happy enough. In fact, I can tell you based on what has happened to me and what I have watched other people go through is that you won’t be happy by comparing yourself to others…EVER.
With so much negative influence in our lives, let’s you and I spend a little more time surrounding ourselves with good. Tell yourself how wonderful you are on a regular basis. Read a motivating book or take a walk outside. Do anything you know can help nourish your soul instead of degrade you. With so much negative stuff we are exposed to, its important to replace it with positive things. And let’s, both of us, try to remember that we really are enough, and as long as we are being true to ourselves and doing the best that we can we really will be enough, no matter what the world has to say about it.
What do ya say?
