Love & Fitness

“Fit people like themselves better.” – Diana Vreeland

I came across the aforementioned quote and I found it startling, but true. It reminded me of something I’ve heard Dr. Gabriel Cousens say again and again, “Love yourself enough to heal yourself.”  Self-love is a major component to wellness. I’d say it’s the foundation – it’s where all of the goodness springs from down the road.

Fitness gets abused when there is a lack of self-love. The person “killing themselves” with extreme exercise might pretend to love themself, but they often are slowly self-destructing. And being very very sedentary when your physical self needs to be in action, is a clear sign of neglect. (Remember: fitness doesn’t have to be “fitness” …some of the fittest people I know are farmers and construction workers. No dumbbells required.) Here’s what I think are the three self-love truths when it comes to fitness: 

#1 Understand that effort and challenge is required. Self-love doesn’t equate to eating Bon Bon’s in bed and shopping sprees. It means doing the work, whatever that may be for you. For me it’s going to bed early, preparing my own meals, going for a quick run even if it’s cold outside, meeting up with my friends for a walk instead of for drinks. A solid amount of discipline hovers over the movement lifestyle, but it pays off (see #2).  

#2 Prioritize feeling good. You know what feels good? Having energy. Being rested. Feeling strong and capable. There are many false self-love expressions of “feeling good” so be discerning. Indulging in too much caffeine (or chocolate), not getting enough sleep, or working out so hard you can’t walk to your car, are a few examples. Like yourself enough to go after to that real sense of feeling good.

#3 Remember it’s on-going. You don’t climb the fitness mountain, stick a flag in it and call it a day. Fitness is never done. It’s forever. It’s a lifestyle. Life will ebb and flow. There will be seasons of being in the fitness flow, and times of discombobulation – that’s the way it goes. When you get knocked off track AND you like yourself, you keep your eye on the big picture, and find your way back.

I’ll end with one more startling-but-true quote, and I think it sums everything up perfectly. It’s by the Poet Nayyirah Waheed. She writes, “I said to my body, I want to be your friend.” 

Yup. That’s it….

(Mic drop. 💕)