It’s not something a lot of people say out loud, or even to themselves, because most of us tend to think about what we are doing right now, or need to do, not the work we’ve done to be where we are. It comes back to that mental block that so many of us carry but rarely confront; that inner critic, that ‘mean girl’. The voice in our head that considers self-praise a sign of vanity or weakness but in truth it really is, quite simply, acknowledgement. And you really do deserve that.
Acknowledgement. Big word, big connotations. You may acknowledge that you should have thanked someone more profusely, that your kid really didn’t do all of that assignment on his own, that you aren’t really a very good driver (never to hubby) or that you really did have a wine too many last Saturday night but wait… there’s a pattern here. All of these acknowledgements really sound like a whole heap of blame. Acknowledging guilt, fault, shortcomings. But what about the positive stuff?
Here’s a ‘silence-the-mean-girl-for-a-sec’ challenge for you: write down what you’ve achieved since you started this program, and we’re not talking just ‘oh, I lost some weight.’ What you’ve really ticked off life’s big list is sooo much more impressive. Here’s a cheat-start for you:
- I don’t hate my entire wardrobe/wail and gnash teeth on Saturday nights anymore
- I no longer try to hide my body in shame and avoid wearing anything but black
- Looking back at old photos, I realise how ashamed I used to feel. I don’t feel like that anymore. Give that ‘old me’ a hug – it’s all about to change I promise!
- I’ve stopped eating chocolate every, single time I feel stressed. I am in control of chocolate people. In control!
- I don’t feel heavy anymore, I literally feel light and a little bit like skipping…
- I hardly ever feel that old niggling pain in my back/knee now #nosurgeryonmyhorizon
- I don’t say ‘I need to go on a diet’ in mumbling mantra-style anymore
- I’ve stopped obsessing about my weight and my BFF/hubby is finally off the hook re: me whinging about it 😊. Collective sigh of relief. Pass the wine.
- I don’t feel old and over-the-hill anymore, in fact I’ve rediscovered something called ‘fashion’… apparently it isn’t just camouflage after all.
- I no longer need Saturday night knickers AND sucky-in-stockings AND the perfect body shaper undies AND a miracle pair of pants in order to go to a function
- I know what to do now; what to eat, when to eat, when to scoff champagne. I get it at last!
- I kind of like the mirror now. Is that really me?
Add a few more, come on. What’s changed for the better? How much has that impacted on those around you? Because it really isn’t just about weight, it’s about self-esteem, health, your mental state, your patterns of behaviour and self-sabotage. By taking control of this one area of your life you have impacted on so, so much more. You’ve invited achievement into your world and with it more balance, peace and happiness.
You’ve done this. No-one else could do this for you and no-one else did. YOU did it. All of the impact it’s made, all the joy it’s bringing into your life and into the lives of those you love is ever the sweeter because of that singular fact. That’s why this is life-changing and that’s why you should embrace that word ‘acknowledgement’, because it’s really true. You so deserve this.