How to Act Yourself into Better Health
[Written by Gloria Clark, Social Media Manager for Whole Harvest and plant- life enthusiast]
I don't know about you but I spent years of my life trying to talk myself into a better way of living.
I would read an article or watch a documentary and feel inspired to change.
I would make grand plans and create a strict regimen for myself that would shape me into the woman I wanted to become.
Or the one I saw on TV.
Endless commentary in my head about what I should be doing or what I need to do.
But no matter how many reminders I wrote, how many alarms I set, how many guilt trips I would unleash upon myself, nothing changed.
Instead I began a shame spiral that led to:
- low self-esteem
- a feeling of hopelessness
- distrust in myself
I would slowly emerge from my Facebook rabbit hole or Netflix haze and ask myself, "What is wrong with me?"
Then one day I heard a wise woman say, "You can't think yourself into better acting, you must act yourself into better thinking."
Suddenly it clicked.
I couldn’t rely on a feeling of motivation or inspiration to spur me into action. Those feelings were fickle and fading. I couldn’t set such huge, strict, unrealistic goals for myself and expect my untrained body and mind to obtain them.
No, instead of trying to think my way into a solution I only needed to stand up and take that first step.
That first step away from the candy bowl at the front desk at the office, that first step toward the produce aisle where I bought veggies I didn’t know what to do with (yet). That first step to eat a bowl of oatmeal at home instead of visiting a drive thru before work.
I began to do things differently BEFORE I really understood it. I acted "as if" until I "became."
Slowly, it was as if my body now led my mind and I began to make better choices out of habit. Like muscle memory, I steered clear of the junk food aisle and rolled right on to the check-out lane instead.
A quick walk during lunch was not only beneficial, it became enjoyable. I would still read and do research on health and wellness, but I only took one small piece of advice at a time and applied it to my life.
My daily reminders went from “Don't eat that!” to “You are worthy!” and “Easy does it.”
Finally, I realized compassion for myself and my human condition translated to more compassion for others.
This transformation in my thinking is one of the many reasons I chose to work at Whole Harvest. Our mission is to provide that first step toward your best life and continued support as you live it.
By providing ready-to-eat, wholesome plant-based meals, we offer our customers a way to move forward without having to become an “expert” first.
One meal a day, one action a day can change your life. It did mine.