“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”
Okay, so I didn't get to the gym today. I did, however, try out a new ability; with a little assistance, I changed my own oil in my car, as well as the oil and air filters, for the first time. Believe it or not, I actually got on my back and underneath the vehicle. My brother told me this counts toward my daily exercise, lol.
Taking charge of one's own car maintenance is symbolic of the weight loss journey. If we take responsibility for the upkeep and care of our own bodies, that will be its own intrinsic reward. We should care as much (or more) about our bodies as we do the "things" we accumulate in our lives, such as our vehicles, for example. Typically, we spend time and effort making sure our oil gets changed, tires are pumped up and aligned, fluids are topped, belts are tightened, gas tanks are full of proper fuel, exterior is washed & waxed, etc. We need to make, at the very least, the same efforts at taking care of our physical selves; get regular check-ups, go to the gym or get in proper exercise of some sort, be mindful of the type of fuel we use to keep our bodies running properly, etc. Similar to the experience of changing oil and knowing exactly how tightly the screws are put on, when the filter was changed, what type of filter was used, what type and how much oil was added, etc. there is something very equally rewarding about taking responsibility for knowing exactly what goes into our bodies, knowing where the food comes from, what additives/preservatives, if any, we are consuming, what vitamins we are ingesting, etc.
In keeping in line with the idea of putting forth as much effort into ourselves as we do our vehicles, we also need to think of this in the spiritual sense as well. It is important to spend time and effort caring for our spiritual lives. The idea of spirituality has many interpretations. When I talk about spirituality, I don't necessarily mean it in a religious sense. For some people, it does involve religion. It is up to the individual to interpret what that means for them. Some people may be totally comfortable with this idea. For others, the concept may seem foreign. Some people feel detached from any sense of spirituality. I encourage them to try and be open to the idea of exploring their spirituality. This may mean reading, experiencing, praying, meditating, spending time in nature, etc. All the while, it involves learning, growing, and understanding the self in a deeper sense, as well as the world around us. When we become more connected in a spiritual sense, we become more whole ~ more integrated. Life's meaning becomes clearer. Still not convinced that spirituality is important? Research shows there are certain health benefits that can be attributed to religion and spirituality that do not stem solely from healthy lifestyles.
"In a recent study of people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), those who had faith in God, compassion toward others, a sense of inner peace, and were religious had a better chance of surviving for a long time than those who did not live with such belief systems. Qualities like faith, hope, and forgiveness, and the use of social support and prayer seem to have a noticeable effect on health and healing" (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011).
"One clinical study at Duke University found that people who attend regular religious services tend to have better immune function. In another clinical study of 232 older adults undergoing heart surgery, those who were religious were 3 times less likely to die within the 6 months after surgery than those who were not. Not one of the 37 people in this study who described themselves as deeply religious died. Of course, the studies are not comprehensive, and many people find help in spiritual resources for numerous conditions" (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011).But a word of caution from the same source: Spirituality can have a negative impact in certain situations:
"Some experts warn that religious beliefs can be harmful when they encourage excessive guilt, fear, and lowered self worth. Similarly, physicians should avoid advocating for particular spiritual practices; this can be inappropriate, intrusive, and induce a feeling of guilt or even harm if the implication is that ill health is a result of insufficient faith. It is also important to note that spirituality does not guarantee health. Finally, there is the risk that people may substitute prayer for medical care or that spiritual practice could delay the receipt of necessary medical treatment" (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011).Spirituality, as I understand it, also involves the ability to understand & nurture our gifts in life, ~ talents and gifts that can be used for the purpose of building up others ~ and to joyously share these gifts. But sometimes we shy away from or are afraid of our natural talents and abilities. As Marianne Williamson put it:
"It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world."So we need to embrace who we are and what talents we have. We need to share what comes from our heart and soul with others. We owe that to ourselves.
We are, after all, meant to shine!
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