Step 3: Let's Get Physical!!

Hi everybody!!
Sorry for the delay, but I didn't want to write anything unless my heart was in it, and it hasn't been, but I'm back! It's time to feel good--especially with this beautiful end of spring/ beginning of summer weather. Step three about feeling better about yourself means being active!! I know you've heard it before, seen it in magazines, etc. but being active does not mean you have to go to your local track and run five miles everyday. Not even close. Find something you like to do, and do it. If you don't like running long distance, then don't do it. If you love to run, then get your sneakers on and go running. I personally love to dance. Dancing can be great exercise, so if you are like me, go out and find a nearby dance studio, or get a tape or DVD (or youtube it!) and teach yourself. I started doing capoeira, a Brazilian martial art-dance and I adore it! I don't even realize I am breaking a sweat because I actually enjoy it. Find a physical activity you enjoy doing, and do it. I can guarantee you that if you exercise to be healthy (not to lose weight), you will start feeling better about yourself. When I start exercising consistently, I start to have a little glow in my skin, and I promise it's not because of any make-up. :)

Food for thought: I can be really hard on my body, treating it literally like a piece of garbage! This one time my friend said to me, "Your body is your only home. You take it with you no matter where you go, and it will never leave you. Treat it the way you want other people to treat it. Your body is beautiful because you are beautiful and I wish you could see that!" I know it does sound corny, but it's true--your body is a palace, a kingdom, a 5 star resort! It is a divine gift, and deserves to be treated as such. If you love your body, your body will most certainly love you back.

Here are some ideas to get moving this summer: walking, running, biking, jogging, dancing, Zumba, gardening, martial arts, boxing/kick boxing, swimming, having pick up games of soccer, baseball, softball, football, etc. Have fun with it and be creative!

Song for thought: Work That by Mary J. Blige (the jam!!!!!)

Day 2: Reflections

usually, when you ask somebody what they like best about themselves, they would start naming physical features. eyes, lips, nose, teeth, etc. people usually do not say stomach, abs, thighs, back, love handles, etc. first of all, every part of you is beautiful. so what if you have a little bit of a tummy, or your thighs are not a foot apart from each other? you are perfect just the way you are, and you better start believing it!
today, however, you are not going to think about the way you look on the outside. forget that your outsides even exist! here is your homework: get a piece of paper and a pen or pencil or whatever you like to write with. Now, number it 1 to 10. I need you (and don't cheat--this is helpful, I promise) to write down at least ten things you like about yourself without using one physical feature. And if you think of more than ten, definitely write them down! If you really can't think of ten, think about it and go back to it. For example, 1.) I am really good at French (2). I care about my friends (3) I helped an older woman cross the street today (4) I got a B+ on a really hard test, etc....It can be anything that you think is good about yourself and don't feel embarrassed to do this. Don't feel like you are being arrogant. No, what you are doing is realizing your inner beauty and seeing your potential. Being beautiful isn't about what's on the outside. It's about what's on the inside, and trust me, if you are beautiful on the inside, it will most definitely show on the outside. You can only start feeling beautiful if you realize what is beautiful about you, and you can take my word, everyone is beautiful. You just have to find that beauty, and embrace it.

Song for thought- "Beautiful" by Christina Aguileira

Day 1: Accepting Mistakes

*We all have flaws. To err is human. To forgive ourselves is divine.*

Listen up!! You heard it here first! Everyone always says, "Don't regret," "everything happens for a reason," or "even if you regret it now, it was probably something you wanted to be doing at the time.." I agree. I do personally think everything happens for a reason--if it didn't mean something, it wouldn't have happened. HOWEVER, as much as I would love to be regret free, I'm not! I do regret certain things because certain things were mistakes. But the thing to remember is that everyone makes them. You are not alone. And even though you may regret doing something, whatever it is cannot be taken back. It's done. It happened. It's over. And that's okay! You probably won't accept it in one day either, and that's okay too. It takes time! But it's imporant to always remind yourself, "I'm human, it happens, it's over and done with now," and most importantly, "what can I take from this and learn from it so that it doesn't happen again?" Trust me, even the most perfect seeming person has made mistakes, and chances are we will all make a lot more in the future. It's unavoidable, but that's how we learn.

Remember, forgive yourselves because you are your own worst critic and you will feel so much better if you do, trust me. I'm learning this now (: Self forgiveness is the first step to accepting, and embracing your flaws, and loving yourself.

Song for thought: "Freckles" by Natasha Bedingfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-vWKSzqBOk

Learn to Love Yourself

Everyone deserves happiness! And everyone has the right to feel good about themselves and love themselves...but sometimes we don't. So I decided to try something out--for about thirty days I will do different things to try and feel better about myself and learn to love myself, and I would love it if you tried them with me.

Just remember, you are beautiful and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Ever.