Have you experienced the crazy mirrors at an amusement park that show a different reflection of what you really look like? You step up to one mirror and your body is much wider, rounder and shorter, and another mirror will show your image as extra tall, long and impossibly thin. I remember laughing with my friends as we each saw true appearances of ourselves change dramatically in front of those mirrors. We all knew they were just illusions and distortions from our real images, which is what made it so funny. It was magic, not reality.
We can be very self-critical of ourselves, but what really matters? I'm in front of a mirror several times daily. Whether it's my morning routine, preparing for the day, teaching a fitness class, trying on clothes, the many times I wash my hands in front of a mirror, or my nighttime routine, I will see my reflection SO MANY times. Does that show my true self? It shows my physical image, but not my true self. What really matters about "who I am" isn't my reflection on the outside, but the person God made me to be on the inside.
Several years ago, I began living a lifestyle that put attention on my "whole" self, and now I am living my healthiest life ever. I take care of my body holistically, trying to give attention to my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self as needed. My physical image has been altered throughout my life, some good and some not so good choices (like my hairdo in the 80s!). I didn't realize how much I was neglecting my other areas of health until I seriously dug deep into making healthy changes. Training my mind to think positively and make good choices, training my heart to love more and ask God to reveal what needs to change, and training my soul to crave Jesus above anything else was, and still is difficult to do daily, but so worth the benefits.
Getting REAL (Realistic Expectations Allow Love) unveiled my authentic self: a beloved, adored, chosen, child of God. Getting rid of distortions such as "I'm not good enough", illusions of "unworthiness" and unrealistic expectations to "have control" gave me freedom. Friends, we are SO MUCH MORE than our physical image! What really matters is what's inside of us. We're told to love God and love others. However, we can't do that correctly if we don't first love ourselves. Learning how to care properly to our physical bodies is extremely important, but that's only one quarter of your whole self. Would you dig deep with me and reveal your true self? What mirrors of untruths do you need to shatter? Do you know what's lacking in your health? What area do you need to give more attention? Treating yourself holistically including all four components of health will change your life for the best!! Let's manifest what really matters. If you're not sure where to start, I'd love to help.
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