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No matter how diligent we are with our health and wellness, we all have a weakness. It’s that sneaky habit that just won’t quit.
I believe we have good intentions for ourselves and our health. But each of us has that certain area that we can’t seem to fully move past. No matter what we try, it seems to follow us. In past emails, I have talked about my body image issues and how no matter what I did, they would sneak back in my life. I’d go through periods where things seemed good, then one small thing would trigger it. And just like that, all the work I had done seemed to vanish.
Whether your weakness is food, exercise, TV, work, shopping, negative self-talk, alcohol or caffeine, we all have a habit we can’t seem to permanently get rid of. These habits are manifestations of a deeper issues. And until we can address those, our habits will likely continue to control us.
We treat the symptoms rather than the cause. We do things like 30-Day No Sugar Challenge, 5-Day Juice Detox, 3-month fitness program, no shopping months, 2-day digital detox …our list goes on. None of these things are inherently bad. If they spark a lifestyle change for you then they did their job wonderfully. However, most often these attempts end when the challenge is over. Then as life goes on, our poor habits sneak back in.
If you’re tired of the endless band-aids and you’re ready to take a deep dive into your inner world, these exercises can help get you started.
1. Acknowledge the issue. –
Speak your trauma out loud. Listen to yourself say it. Own it without judgement. How does it feel to say it out loud?
2. Identify where it lives
Find a moment and feel where it lives within you. Is it a tightness in your chest, knot in your stomach, pain in your head. Maybe heat emanates from somewhere in your body. See if you can notice any physical symptoms.
3. Get rid of it
Often times these deep issues we’ve been holding onto block our bodies energy flow (chakras), keeping us stuck. Try moving your energy around to clear any blocks. Qi gong and yoga work directly with the chakras, but kick boxing, running, dancing, or any other movement might be better suited for you. The key is to listen to your body and do what it says.
4. Inquire
Now that you’ve release some energy, be your own detective. Ask yourself when this issue started for you. How far back can you go with it? Did anything specific trigger it? Was anyone else involved? What feelings can you remember when this first started? What was your emotional state at the time? Why? How deep can you get in this inquiry?
5. Forgive
You have identified the deeper seeded issue that manifests as your wellness weakness or nagging habit, and it’s time to offer yourself forgiveness. Think about that younger you that was suffering and looking for a way to cope or fit in. Know that you were doing the best you could at the time. It’s time you forgive yourself and remember that perfection is not the goal.
It’s important to know that this isn’t a one-time exercise. Think about how long you’ve held this deep trauma. It isn’t going to go away overnight. But you can shine a light on it and understand when it arises so that you can get ahead of the sugar, shopping, negative talk, or whatever your distraction of choice may be. You can use your personal sovereignty to make the more loving choice.
Remember that you are your own best friend. Treat yourself accordingly. Allow anything and everything to come up. Resist the urge to push it down.
If you’re struggling with letting go, start by doing something good for yourself. Then do something good for someone else. Transform that unhealthy habit into service. Be of service to yourself and others.