You Are Responsible For Your Own Feelings

I originally thought I wanted to talk about Holiday eating on this #FitnessFriday, but I've had a change of heart.

I want to talk instead about our mental health during the holidays.
More specifically I want to talk about the power that we give our relatives over our happiness.

Go ahead and slip into some bell bottoms and put a flower in your hair, because I'm going to drop some hippy shit on you, but hang with me.

YOU are entirely responsible for the way you let other people make you feel and YOU get to decide how much joy you take away from your holiday.

And that can be a really hard pill to swallow when you are sitting across the table from a family member who you just don't vibe with.

So how do you combat that?
How do you push away their negativity and let yourself enjoy the festivities?
The truth is, it starts with your own thoughts. In these days leading up to Christmas, take the opportunity to find the positive in the things that are about to happen.

I don't know about you guys but I tend to dread. I sit there and I worry about how my family will get along or what they might say to hurt each other.
The problem is, all that worry is doing is stirring up the negativity.
Chose to live in the good stuff instead.
When you feel those what-ifs start creeping in, stop yourself and think of something you are greatful for instead.
Replace "Gosh what if my family thinks I didnt do a good job hosting Christmas" with "I'm so blessed that I CAN host Christmas" or "Thank God I get to have the jell-o salad that Grandma only rolls out on holidays".

Your thoughts carry great power over your circumstances. Make them work in your favor!

And sure, that's all well and good until you're standing in front of your sister who just said "Cute hair", when you both know she really meant "WTF is going on with your hair" and now you just want to throat punch her...what then??
Well, this is where you decide if this moment is worth it.
Is that crappy comment or their crappy attitude worth ruining your holiday?
9 times out of 10, the answer is no.

There is something truly amazing about standing in front of someone who has tried to make you feel bad, and deciding that they aren't worthy of stealing your joy.

The holidays are meant for more than presents and family drama.
Spend these days focusing on what you are greatful for and wishing blessings on the family that drives you bananas.

Your positivity will be contagious.

Comments

When Insecuritues Control You

Have you ever thought about the power you give to your insecurities? I remember one day a while back, I was getting dressed for the gym and I realized all of my leggings were still in the washing machine. My only option for the leg-day ahead was compression shorts. I died a little inside thinking about how people might judge the cellulite on my legs or think i was too big to be wearing shorts at all. Why couldn't I have been born during a time period where curves and rolls were attractive? But, then again, booty shorts wouldn't even be a thing in that day and age, and I surely would already be dead from small pox or stoned to death for one sin or another by now. I digress. I closed the drawer and decided I could just skip the gym that day. And then it hit me. I was so insecure about other peoples opinions of MY body, that I would rather stay home than risk someone thinking something negative about me. What kind of life is that? What kind of example was that setting for ...

They're Listening

"Ugh, I suck. I'm the worst. I'm not good at anything." I've gotten on my daughter 100 times for talking to herself like that. "Would you say that to your friends? Then don't say it to yourself." I just could not wrap my head around where my confident daughter was learning to talk to herself like that. And then I heard it. On my last hunting trip, I was lucky enough to have a friend record the hunt. At one point, things weren't going the way I had planned. I remember mumbling to myself how upset I was. I remember jokingly saying I wasn't as good as we thought. I remember calling my husband, still breathing heavy from the hike, and joking that I was too fat for this. When we retrieved the elk, I remember being congratulated for the shot, but wondering if I could have done better. I was hard on myself for needing help with field dressing. I was physically ill that night because I was so worried I might not be strong enough to pack out...

Dealing With Hip Pain (Part 1)

Hands up if you deal with hip pain after having kids 🙋‍♀️ This one is for you. After kid 1 and 2, I really struggled with pain in my hips. Even when I was training 6 days a week (sometimes twice a day), the hip pain was there when I went hiking or snowshoeing. During my pregnancy with kid 3 I started struggling with Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). To sum it up, I felt like my pelvis was going to snap in half. At the recommendation of friends who had been there, I sought out a physical therapist. Hannah Gray with Pelvic Health and Wellness gave me some really simple at-home exercises to strengthen my pelvic floor. I did different variations of 🍑 Glute Bridges 🍑Squats 🧜‍♀️ Slutty Mermaids (I think normal people call these clam shells, but whatever...) People. This was life changing! In May, I hiked a 14er and for the last mile I basically drug my leg and used my walking sticks as crutches. Just 5 months l...

Tales Of The Wild Things

Search This Blog