Free yourself from the Tyranny of Other People’s Opinions! Once I shifted my focus from what the world thinks about what I do (or what *I think* the world thinks–never assume!) to only what *I* think about what I do, my life has blossomed.
Why? Because when you make your locus of focus internal not external, you free yourself to be your best self. You learn to only measure yourself against yourself, your goals, and what you are personally achieving. YOU are the master or mistress of your destiny!
Know this: You cannot heal the world if YOU are unhealthy, mentally and/or physically. If you think there’s something wrong with the world, you need to consider what might be wrong with YOU and then CHANGE.
The “common good” means you take care of YOURSELF, not that *I* have to take care of YOU. Find balance in YOUR mind, body, and soul: Healthy self = heal thy self.
Want to learn more? Read about my transformation in The Ecstatic Pessimist (BUY NOW from Amazon or me). Read my 10 Steps to Radically Improve Your Life and about my own transformation.
This post and photo appeared on November 8, 2018 after I lost my NH Senate race–I received 42% against an eleven term, 82 year old Establishment Elite incumbent with almost half-a-million dollars in his war chest. (I had $25K and a lot of grassroots support.)
Positive reflection: I am very proud of myself for not cheating on my #Keto lifestyle at all during this entire election cycle–well, except for those damn little choccies at AFP once in a while!
I could ignore pizza laden tables at events without ever having that “OMG, I’m going to die, I’m so hungry” feeling. When contemplating how I would like to “reward” myself after the race, I ran down a litany of “naughty food,” (poison) and realized, burger? nope, pizza? nope, cupcake? nope, mac & cheese, well, yes, but I can make a yummy, almost-as-good substitute. I now know fueling your body with the nutrients it deserves can change your life by giving you stamina, focus, and balance.
My sister, Lizette Cloete, who kindly cooked us a volunteer “thank you” meal on Monday night even got “a-talking-to” when she wanted to make a traditional meat and bean chili. “No,” I said, “I am living my principles and that means serving food that I can eat.” She made two separate pots and people could mix and match according to their desires. Thank you!
Other than once over a lunch date with myself at a fancy hotel while waiting on a print run for mailers, I didn’t have any urges to drink alcohol, either. (I ordered a ginormous sparkling water instead because I like that tea and water glow I have now!)
I’m down 65 pounds, and think my weight is probably close to where it wants to be. This morning, Louis and I both had the exact same thought…
Louis: “When we’re in South Africa in December, let’s set a goal to do yoga every day.”
Me: “OMG, I was literally just thinking the same thing!!!”
For me, this journey is about being the best me I can be, and I’m getting there, and then some… Get ready to be amazed! <3 y’all!
I have officially lost FIFTY POUNDS.
How, you ask?
- I quit drinking.
- I started and stick to Keto, no cheating (low carbs, medium protein, high good fats).
- I move more. I did it through the dead of a NH winter, walking Nellie on the Piscataquog river trail through rain, sleet, and snow. I ride an exercise bike in the basement 2-3 week for 30 mins, low and slow, nothing crazy. I lift weights at the gym sometimes. I’m eager to see how I can move more now that it’s Spring. More gardening, more yoga, more meditation, more play, more LIVING in BALANCE which helps me achieve my goals.
- I made ME my #1 priority.
Other observations:
Fifty pounds is A LOT. Part of me thinks, wow, I should really be much skinnier now! lol But this reminds me how far I let my health and weight go when I was focusing on everyone and everything around me. You can’t fix the world, if you can’t fix yourself.
A better YOU is out there for the taking. For me, this isn’t about a number on the scale, it is about how I *feel*, and I feel FINE.
I’m in my mid-forties, and that’s my PRIME (weird old-lady-on-the-trail hat or not!). Watch out world, I’m coming for you! ***ROAR!!!***
PS: I’d like to express my heartfelt appreciation for three fabulous ladies who inspired me through their own human action: Kari DePhillips, Kelly Chase and Sandy Pierre. Thanks, grrrls! <3