
Taking a "risk" is so different for each person. We each have doubts and insecurities that are given too much power in our day to day living. We all need encouragement to try something new, take a chance, and stretch ourselves.
Sometimes telling our story is also a significant risk....
A risk I took on January 4 was to put away my bathroom scale. The seemingly random numbers we assign as important have been dictating my mood and how I view myself for way too long.
Scales are an important tool in monitoring weight especially as one tries to lose weight. (or for some folks gain weight) Years ago I lost a significant amount of weight and being able to numerically watch it come off was encouraging.
As time went on and I changed my lifestyle, I didn't need the scale as a tool as much as I once did. I kept weighing myself...daily. As you know the numbers fluctuate from day to day. Intellectually I know that is normal but emotionally I would beat myself up if they were not what I was hoping for when I stepped on. That high or low connected to the scale would stay with me the rest of the day. Why would I let that happen?! There are so many great things about my life. Why would I let this randomly assigned number dictate my self-worth?
I don't know what happened on January 4. Maybe I was just tired of the emotional up and down. Maybe it was my word - RISK - that made me try something new. I have not gotten it out since then. To be clear...I have wanted to - a lot! It is hard to let go of something that had so much power over me. But I haven't....and my jeans still fit.
Maybe that was one of my fears. Would I lose control? Would I gain all that weight back that I worked so hard to lose? I have been eating healthy and working out. That is important and it feels good. What feels even better is not letting something outside of me control how I value myself. I begin most days feeling centered and peaceful. Ironically...I feel lighter!
~Pam