Last week I was interviewed for a radio show called Positive Living with Patricia Raskin.  At first I thought this was a great idea to reach my audience and attempt to attract more clients.  However, when I sat down to think about what I wanted to talk about, what came up was the question “What is the message I want to get out?”  So many people I talk to are looking for safer, natural ways to improve their health.  More and more people are realizing that the fad DIEts and quick fixes are not working for long term weight loss and illness prevention and maintenance.  

But it is more than losing weight for many of the people I work with and talk to.  Yes, people will come to me initially because they want to learn how to eat healthier, lose weight, manage blood sugar etc., however, there are deeper reasons why DIEts don’t work.  If were as easy as being told what to eat and when to exercise, wouldn’t we all look fabulous?  Wouldn’t everyone be walking around at their ideal weight, in great moods with lots of energy?  So what gives?  What is the problem?

I’ll admit there is a lot of confusing information around health and food.  I’ll even admit that once we know what to eat - and what not to, some of it may surprise us.  But why is it SO HARD to do this once we know what “it” is?  The reason lies between having good information and understanding at a deeper level where the emotional ties are to our eating - and other self-sabotaging habits.  None of us live off too little sleep, caffeine reliance, ridiculous stress levels and brain fogginess because that is how we want to live.  We live this way because we don’t know how NOT to. 

There is so much more to being healthy than just learning discipline.  Although it is a piece, it is ONLY a piece.  The other reasons are related to stories we have been telling ourselves our entire lives.  These stories cause us to fall off of our DIEts and reinforce the limiting beliefs that tell us we are failures and will never be able to lose weight and feel vibrant.  

But don’t we all want to live the life that we know deep down inside we were meant to live?  The answer to this is YES...and NO.  Most of us want to live a life free of being overweight, high-stressed, low energy, irritability, low self esteem and feeling guilty every single time we are presented with food choices and life choices that may not serve us.  

The “NO” comes in when let Fear stop us.  Most of us are not ready to dig into the deeper areas and detox out those stories and fears so that we can live the life of our dreams.  We tell ourselves it is easier - and safer to continue living with what we know rather than take a leap into the unknown.  To visit the unknown, we have to listen to our bodies, minds and hearts.  We have to tap into what we have put away a long time ago.  We have detox not only our bodies but also our hearts and minds.  This is a process and takes practice, vulnerability and courage.  Until we are ready to understand what is blocking us, we do not even have the option to move these blocks out of our way.  

What stories are blocking you from being the best “You”?  One of my mentors always says that “This is NOT a dress rehearsal, it is your life, it is right now”.  There is no do-over so make every day count.  Why live our lives the way we think others want us to?  Also, the destination is not as important as the journey.  Avoiding something now may seem like a good idea but does it really feel better or just bury discomfort within the rest of the pile?  

As you are moving into this new year, I invite you to consider when you are going to start thinking about your health and happiness as a necessity rather than a luxury?  Is it really a luxury to live a life of vitality rather than in complacency?  

I hope you know that YOU are worth everything your heart wants for you.  It is your duty to live it out the way the world meant for you to.  YOU can become the expert in your own health.  YOU can be empowered to make decisions that bring you closer to your destiny rather than farther from it.  

So, the message I really want to get out to every woman that has ever said to herself “I can’t” or “I don’t deserve it” is this...

YOU are worth it, YOU deserve it, YOU are beautiful. 

Please post your comments below.  What is blocking you?  What do you want to see more of in these articles?