The world today seems to be constantly telling us to strive for more. That we should want it. That we need it. Don’t get me wrong, goal setting is great, but if we’re constantly shifting the bar in all areas of our life – work, education, health, living situation, money, parenting… – will we ever feel truly content with who we are and what we already have?
It can be difficult to ignore external criticism, comparisons and opinions, and even harder to ignore negative self-talk. It’s one of the things I detest most about the health and fitness industry that I work in: You could be healthy and happy if you only do ____ or eat ______ or be like _______.
We’ve somehow lost our own intuition when it comes to our nutrition, wellness and exercise habits (we are, after all, unique individuals, so these should be different for everyone!), and trying to keep up with the rest of the world is a recipe for constantly feeling inadequate.
The older I get, the more I’ve come to realise that contentment doesn’t come from other people telling us what we are or should be. Following their advice can be exhausting. Perfection is non-existent. If you can tell yourself that you are enough, then you will be. You are a wonderful and unique individual; don’t let others try to put you in a box and make you like everyone else. You are enough.
Image / NZ Real Health