I’ve struggled through the years to really grasp health. Not because I don’t believe it is something we can grasp, but simply questioning how and when we put so much emphasis on health. The question I believe so many of us have; how-to be successful at health, at losing weight, at feeling good?
While I’m sure this struggle has always been a part of society, when did we become obsessed about it? When did we start investing countless thousands of dollars into it, more time and energy than we have? Not to mention, putting aside all the other meaningful things of life, simply to chase a number?
I found myself stuck in the same trap I know millions of people suffer with as I was prepping for the five-day hormonal reset. It wasn’t my first go around with it and in fact I have found great success with the simple little program. Yet that day I was flooded with the lies of my mind telling me how hard and restrictive it was going to be only leading me to want to eat everything in sight.
Not because I was hungry, but simply fearing not having. This was all because of a mind game.
So what was different about this time, rather than the other two times I gracefully completed the program and felt so good doing so?
The same question goes for every one of the millions of people who are striving to be a certain number on the scale, fit into a certain size of pants, have perfectly toned legs and a flawless face. It’s the same question for the ones who pay thousands to get things surgically altered and the rest who can’t afford it or aren’t desperate enough.
What are we all missing and why aren’t we successful? What is the answer to the pleas people are paying billions of dollars every year to make better?
Maybe it all lies in how we define success?
OR
Maybe we have an altered view of success?
the first step
The first and critical step in this three-part series is to know what health means. How you define health. I talk about the definition of health in this post and it is a MUST READ before moving on. Because changing our view of health, understanding that health is not something we should chase but rather choose. That health is actually defined as free.
Free, can you imagine what that looks like?
defining success
Once you understand the difference between traditional health and free health we can move on to success. Another topic that has been washed to be a cultural idol, just like health, that so many of us strive for. Success and striving for success becomes our god. The one we pour energy, time, money and resources in.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe that success and health are both very Biblical and beneficial things, but health is not nor should never be the thing we live for. The good news is, this makes it a bit easier to achieve, right?
The problem is we often strap the wrong definition to success. We define it as the world has defined it to us, the American Dream. Which also means that success can only be found in wealth, favor, and popularity. That is why so often we attach success to a number, whether how much you bring home on your paycheck, how much you’re worth, how many kids you have, what size jeans you wear or even how many likes your last Instagram post got.
Am I right?
But the root, the meaning of success was never intended to become a number. It could, but who is to say what that number is? The word success comes from the original Latin word, successus, which means; “an advance, a coming up; a good result, happy outcome.”
So let me ask you, what is your view of success?
Does it stem from the common knowledge of a number or the root of success in having a happy outcome?
why does this matter
We can skirt around this issue like it doesn’t matter. Heck, we all know promising great results in weight loss, in financial gains, or in popularity, sells. People are driven to be successful in the way we’ve created it to be; from gains in profit, popularity and presentation.
But what if you reach that and you still aren’t fulfilled? You still aren’t satisfied and you still aren’t happy?
We know and we’ve heard people speak all over the world that money can’t buy you happiness. Fame won’t make you more joy filled and I promise you that being a certain size won’t automatically make you everything you want to be.
The truth is chasing the wrong version of success with the wrong motives will only leave you more hopeless than you started. I can assure you that life won’t get easier, less chaotic and overwhelming at that number whether financially, in our appearance or fame.
My caution is if you’re chasing the wrong idea of success, success that our culture has created it to be, you’ll be left searching for the wrong thing your entire life.
this is success
Success is simply a good result, a happy outcome which can all be summed up in joy.
If we set aside what the world tells us success is and we move it out-of-the-way, we can make room to understand our own view of success. What is that you want? What brings you passion and creates purpose in your life and motivates you to wake up every single morning?
Maybe I should ask, if money, fame and appearance didn’t matter, what would you do with your life?
At this point you may be questioning what this has to do with health?
I can tell you it has everything to do with health. Keep reading.
the connection
As I pondered why we live and cling to numbers, to looks and appearance. Why we’ve been lead to believe that beauty can only be found in perfectly positioned eyes, smooth hair and a flawless complexion {just to name a few}. I’ve been led to believe that we’re just a lonely, fatigued satiety that is clinging and grasping to anything it can create instead of looking at whats already been created.
You see, we’ll never be successful by chasing someone else’s vision of success. We’ll never reach our health goals by following what worked for someone else. And we’ll certainly never be famous for imitating someone else.
Instead of chasing everything we’re not, maybe we should start owning who we are.
To start embracing the life we’ve been blessed with, to count it all as joy. To understand your purpose, your passions and what lights you up. Then we can start living for something greater, the thing you’ve been created for instead of chasing a number.
Maybe it sounds cliché, and not enough.
But what if you, right now are exactly what you need in this moment. That without this moment you’ll never be able to recognize what you have, what you can build on and what you need.
how-to define success
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting excuses to do nothing. What I am aiming to do is empower the right choices and in doing this helping you write your own story of success.
Because as long as you are chasing health, you’ll never reach it. As long as you’re chasing a number, it will never be enough. If you keep chasing what others are telling you to chase, you’ll be left empty, unsatisfied and unfulfilled.
The easy answer is to stop, let it all go, move it all out-of-the-way and in this moment paint your own picture of success.
Create a better story.
A story you want to be a part of. Heck one you can’t imagine missing out on.
We’re a society who runs to a better story. For example this is why so many struggling marriages are failing because we create better stories in other people. Why so many people are obsessed with social media, because we chase the better story that others are posting about 24/7.
We desire to live for something big, to do great things. To be needed and wanted and loved.
We want to live a really great story.
So my challenge is that you create that story. Paint a picture of that story. Develop a vision for that story. The story that defines you, a story that you live for. Ultimately becoming the story that you own.
The bottom line: Write your own vision of success, not the one everyone is tell you is true, but the one you believe to be true for you. Write your story and watch as you live that.
you jeans size won’t cut it
Lets break this down to give you a few examples. Here is a traditional view of success:
- Six-figure income {minimum}
- Two-story house in a nice neighborhood
- A european SUV
- Approximately 2.4 children {which I assume are also perfectly behaved}
- Size X jeans
- The perfectly toned body
- Perfect complexion {even if that means having enough money to use botox}
While I’m not saying any of those things are wrong or not worth working for. Maybe the traditional idea of success fits you. Great, then keep working to achieve that.
BUT….
If that sounds like anything but what brings you joy, then you my friend need to take some time to write out what does. To make a list, create a vision, write a better story of what brings you happiness. What creates joy and what fills you up?
A few examples for my better story:
- Energy to hike and bike and camp with my family.
- My clothes are not defined by numbers by what makes me feel good.
- Time in my day to spend in prayer and worship.
- Friends that inspire me and uplift me but also friends I can laugh with.
- A marriage that can be an escape to daily chaos.
- Sleeping 8 hours a night.
- Being able to give to help others financially.
- Being able to purchase groceries to create food that makes me feel good and feed my body well.
- Maintaining close relationships with my extended family.
- Sharing true health and love daily to others.
- Being able to own and care for animals {because dogs make everyone better people}
Obviously those are just a few, but this is the start of my own vision of success. You may be surprised at what doesn’t make the cut and how freeing that can be.
Because when you really write it out, release your true identity you can start to realize that things you invest so much time, energy, effort and money into aren’t really worth it after all. You can then prioritize what matters and work to achieve that rather than waste time working for something that you really don’t care about to begin with.
Do you see how this can change everything?
You’re jean size most likely won’t make the cut, but I promise you’ll experience health in a new way.
the only way
As we continue with this series we’re going to break down how to achieve health the lasting way. May I add, the simple and easy way? The way health was intended to be.
The reality in all of your dreams and goals, the only way you’ll ever live your better story is in health.
Today, remember that success to you must be defined by you. It’s the outcome you set from the drive that you have. It’s not a one sized fits all approach. Success is uniquely and perfectly individualized, and that my friend is a really beautiful thing.
Now it’s your turn to write your own story. To create that vision of success and see how it starts to transform how you look at your health.
the next level
If you’re ready to go to the next level with your health. To take your story and drive it forward in health then it is time to check out my One Day Lifestyle Reset. This is not the typical health gig, the one that be-littles you and makes you a slave to your diet.
This program is intended to give you life so you can fully live. To get rid of the brain fog, help you drop a few pounds, develop a relationship with the body you’ve been living with for how many years and fully experience what health. The deep down healthy feeling you’ve been missing out on is right there and can be found in just one-day.
Sign up below to join me on this journey to knowing you, uncovering a the real you and helping you to live with more energy than you knew was possible.
