SELF DEVELOPMENT STEP THREE: APPRECIATION
APPRECIATE WHAT DIDN’T WORK.
We cringe at the thought of our past bad habits, our mistakes and failures. We end up beating ourselves up for hours, days, weeks or even YEARS over the past.
So, let’s nip this in the bud.
APPRECIATE THAT OUR BRAIN WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP US SAFE.
All it knows is what it has experienced up until now. For most of our childhood, teens and early adulthood we are mostly on autopilot, using the habits, beliefs and routines that were taught to us by our elders or enforced by society's expectations.
The change begins when we realize that our desired goals and our daily life don’t match up.
In my family, they use food, alcohol, substances and overworking to hide emotions. As a child I learned that this was safe, normal and expected. So, no wonder 10 years ago that I was 220lbs and unhappy… my subconscious was just doing what it was taught to do in order to survive.
Once I became AWARE, I knew something had to change.
When I ACCEPTED my reality that there was no way to hide my unhappiness and size, I ACCEPTED that this would take work and YEARS to heal from.
And then...I took steps to APPRECIATE what my past generations had taught me.
I APPRECIATE:
The knowledge that emotions hold extreme impact.
How it felt to go from 130lbs to 220lbs to 140lbs.
The commitment, bravery, grit and determination it took to healing myself.
My brain’s self sacrifice in protecting me from grief and trauma.
That I did not have to be aware of the full weight of the horrific emotional trauma during a young age.
That my healing journey began when I was older so I could have more control.
The childhood I had that has allowed me to get a crash course in mental health, generational trauma, self development, health, nutrition, fitness and so much more.
WHEN WE WANT TO CHANGE, we have to allow the subconscious brain to understand that we are safe, that we are no longer going to use this pattern, and that this NEW habit/plan/pattern/behaviour will actually make us safer and allow us to THRIVE instead of just survive.
Discover the hidden gems of your past and journey so far.
What HAS worked in your favour?
