Maintaining your sparkle. inner

Every day we are being bombarded with messages that convince us to compare ourselves with others and compete. Whether it be around what we have in our lives or how we look, there is always that subliminal message that you are not good enough unless … unless you are this dress size, have this kind of car, your children go to this school… so it takes a lot of mental and emotional discipline to not buy into all of that. Remember, you are more than your stuff or the way you look. You came to this world a miracle with nothing and were celebrated and loved. The ‘stuff' is just the fun along the way; it need not define you. Or nor does how we look. In a world full of individuals, why would we compare? We are individuals! And it is THAT individuality that makes you, YOU.

Take action.

If you are playing that game of comparison and feel your sparkle and energy depleting STOP.

1. Return to the mirror and remind yourself how loved and amazing you are.

2. Write down five things you are grateful for

3. Stop comparing.

4. Do some exercise!

A final thought on the value of exercise.

Exercise is a loving thing to do for you and your body. We underestimate the connection between our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Exercise continues to be the most underprescribed, under-utilised natural antidepressant there is.

Think about the effect of the relationship and your conversations with yourself.

Let's say, right now; you decide you are going for a walk tomorrow morning; yep, you are getting started. The alarm goes off; you hit snooze and don't go.

What is the conversation with yourself when you finally drag yourself out of bed?

“Oh, here we go again; I knew you couldn't do it, always saying you would do something, and you don't. These pants are tight, damn it.”

Your energy is low, and you take the negative energy everywhere with you and make everybody else pay because you didn't do that living thing for yourself.

However, if you do get up and go for that walk.

What is the conversation you are having with yourself now?

Oh, you are so proud of yourself! You get back and put your pants on and think, “Oh, they fit better already!” (No, they don't, you have only been once!), but you see, we don't see things as they are; we see things as we are. Doing something loving for yourself changes the lens through which you look at the world. Now you are sparkling, and the world looks better!