You know what makes us all feel really uncomfortable?

…. Figuring out what we REALLY want.

That thing that is so exciting to our souls, that most of us avoid it at all costs – because the let down would be to great. Because failing would hurt too much. Because it would make us feel too vulnerable, breakable, open, human… Alive.

So instead we just shut it down. “That’s not real life! Ha! Real life is practical, straight forward, difficult. ….Also I need to lose 25 pounds.”

We shut down our unique voices, viewpoints, eccentricities, joys, hidden desires, and decide to try and conquer and control instead. 

And lots of us do this in a specific way: 

We bury our dreams and decide that controlling our bodies is a better bet than risking.

“This way I’ll be infallible, beautiful, loved.”

Risking is foolish and dangerous and holds no guarantees. Dominating our own weight feels much more straightforward and doable- and noble.

“Now people will take me seriously. Oh how did I get this CEO position? I only eat avocados and Icelandic lamb meat. Yea, I know, I work really hard. You probably couldn’t do it.”

We are looking for that feeling of being alive. We want that feeling of freedom, joy, presence, confidence …aliveness. We don’t know how to put our finger on it. It feels like maybe external approval is the way. Maybe conquering this earthly plane. We decide that being untouchable beautiful and healthy is the way to do that.

It’s not.

And this isn’t your fault…. This is what our society tells you. Of course you believe it. We just want to be loved! We just want to be happy.

Also… Don’t get me wrong, healthy is great. But restriction and fearful control isn’t the path to well rounded health. I promise.

But the truth is, we are fallible. We are mortal. We are only here for a short time. What we REALLY want us to feel alive. To risk. To dare and to feel.

The other truth, is that beauty is subjective. Confidence is attractive. And health is also an emotional and spiritual endeavor (and also restriction really messes up lots of hormone:metabolism function.)

You can’t control your body and hope it will make you feel more happy and alive.

Open up.

Eating is the first step, but this part is just as important.

What is your buried dream?

What have you been avoiding?

What truth have you been ignoring?

No one wants to eat food that doesn’t make them feel good.

If we were all to get out of our own way, we would easily and intuitively go for food that tasted good and made us feel great: nourished, calm, satiated, and healthy. That is what we want and what our bodies want.

We would naturally and easily steer away from foods that our body didn’t jive with (Whatever that may be. We are ALL different).

And when we veered from those foods and ate something that wasn’t “the best” for our particular bodies, it would be no big thing: “eh, I’ll be fine”.

And then we would move on. No shame. No dwelling. No serious horrible consequences, except maybe a stomachache or a pimple or headache.

But as long as we are in our own way, forcing certain restrictions and diets and rules on ourselves, that easy, joyful intuitive diet is never actually going to happen.

You MUST get out of your own way in order to start to let your body do it’s thing. And you’re body’s “thing” for a whole year might be mac n’ cheese. And that is a really important part of the “getting out of your own way” journey.

Because here is the thing, if all you eat for a year is mac n’ cheese, eventually you will be over mac n’ cheese. And if wheat and dairy jive with you, you’ll have it on occasion. And if wheat and dairy don’t jive with you, you’ll still probably have it on occasion. And it’ll be fine. But you will be out of your own way… and your body will start to eat what it really, really craves.

The more you judge what your body craves, the less authentic those cravings will be.

Get out of your own way.

Stop dieting.

Stop judging what you need to eat during the process. And let your “diet” eventually choose you.

And when you eat something that you think “isn’t good”, remember: it doesn’t matter. The less it matters, the more easily you will be able to truly want and choose foods that feel good and make you feel alive.

Perfection? Fuck. It.

 

Generally, I hate common new year’s resolutions.

They feed right into that black and white, self-hating, guilt inducing, atone-for-your-carb sins cycle.

Resolutions are the diet, and the backlash is just around the corner. February guilt, anyone?

This year, do me a favor and throw out the self-hating, militaristic resolutions, and if you must resolve, resolve sanely:

Resolve to Eat what you really love

You have gotten yourself nowhere by staying in a diet/repent cycle. Break it now.

Resolve to invest your time in what/who you really care about

Life is too short to waste it. Get real with yourself about what makes you come alive. Which brings us to…

Resolve to Be Honest with yourself

Stop avoiding yourself. Stop avoiding the truth. Stop avoiding. Ask yourself “where am I lying to myself?”. It is life changing. And don’t feel guilty. We all do it.

Resolve to Stretch

Get on the floor and stretch your body. Don’t force exercise you don’t feel like doing, just don’t. Exercise only to feel alive. But get in a quick habit of stretching your body because you are alive, and your body is great, and it deserves to be lived in and and stretched.

Resolve to sleep better and get real rest

You freaking deserve it.

Resolve to love yourself more in 2015

You are worth it. This year. With this mind and this body. You have always been worth it. So give yourself permission to do cool things, and say what you mean, and do what you like. You will never be more ready than you are now. And no one is ever going to give you permission except you. No one. Don’t wait for your thin fantasy, or love fantasy or job fantasy to do what you have been waiting to do.

What else? Comment below!

Ok. GO BE AWESOME.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Also, don’t miss the last few hours to register for my program with the Holiday price at over 50% off!)