Surrender

The next time you're worn out, don't tell yourself to pep up.
Do what your body and brain want: surrender to the weariness.
Breathe into it.
--Martha Beck, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World

We push ourselves day in and day out. Not letting a drop of sleep deprivation show during important business meetings or showing any sort of weariness when we meet with our personal trainers. We've told ourselves day in and day out that being worn out is a sign of weakness, and we must struggle to hide the 3 hours of sleep we put ourselves through.

Then something happens. Maybe that cold finally catches up to you, or getting out of bed seems even a bigger chore than ever before.

That's when we need to remind ourselves that it's ok to say no. That's it's ok to cancel. That it's ok to "schedule" time for workouts, eating, sleeping, cooking, playing. That it's ok to just Breathe. And surrender. Listen to what your body and brain want and feed those desires without guilt.

I Love My Record Player

"I love my record player." -Nora

Live, Love, Learn

"Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."

- Peter T McIntyre

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We all make mistakes sometimes. Don't waste time with regret or guilt. These are emotions that cause you to live in the past. What counts is how we learn from our mistakes, how we live life moving forward after we've acknowledged our misfortunes, how we love post broken heart, and how we remain fearless in the face of the unknown.

Destroying Guilt

I don’t believe in guilt. I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person, and don’t judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free.
-Angelina Jolie

You can't have guilt if you don't believe in it right? More guiltlessness:

• Make motivating/inspirational lucky stars to share with friends and guests in your home. Love this idea shared by our friend Jessica

• Learn these: 20 Things People With A Positive Body Image Know

• How photoshopping alters our perception of beauty: a fantastic post by Beauty Redefined

Have a completely free and Guiltless week!

I Love My Sense of Adventure

"I love my sense of adventure!" -Erin

I Love My Laugh

"I love my laugh!" - Carly

Why do you workout?

Personal trainer and Pilates instructor Phyl London has taught me a lot about working out: Keep your head up, stay aligned in the feet and hips, tuck the ribs, bend the knees, BREATH. But last night when we were working out, I had an "aha" moment. The question: "Why do you workout?" is a loaded one. Often, people begin workout routines because they want to lose weight, or they feel guilty for eating a high calorie meal, or they have an upcoming event that they want to lose weight for, or they simply have an ongoing goal to look better. But the benefits of exercise run so much deeper than these reasons.

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My conversations about health and fitness with Phyl have revealed something to me about my mental connection to being physically active. Though exercise, I have gotten stronger, more confident in my physical capabilities, more serious about my muscle and skeletal health, and I look toward a future of flexibility and strength in my older age. I used to agonize over a missed workout, because I thought that taking a day or two off for some rest meant I was lazy. Now I realize that rest is extremely important and valuable to both our physical and mental states. Your relationship with exercise, just like your relationship with food, is an important place to explore your relationship with yourself.

I treat working out in Phyl's classes like a sports team practicing, because each week we build on our skills and challenge ourselves a little more. And even if we fall or fail, we try it again and again until we master it. And that's what working out means to me: To challenge my body, my mind, and my confidence. And that's Guiltless.

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