A friend of mine who struggles with her weight recently commented on how lean I was looking and said with a heavy sigh, “You are so lucky.”
I didn’t say anything in the moment, but I thought this was interesting since this friend knew me three years ago when I was at my heaviest weight ever and has witnessed me not only getting the weight off, but keeping it off for the first time in my life.
Truly, luck has had nothing to do with it.
Wellness is something that I focus on and strive to achieve. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I am committed to regularly moving my body and eating healthy food most of the time. But more importantly, I have changed my relationship with my body—and with myself.
I love and appreciate myself more, and as a result, I do more to take care of me. This “selfishness” of making my self-care a priority has actually enabled me to do more for others because I feel better mind, body, and spirit. Not only do I have more physical energy, but I have more mental and emotional energy. I am happier, healthier, and more in love with life as a result. My being happier has an impact on everyone I encounter.
We often assume that everyone else has it easier than we do and that we are alone in our struggles. We think weight loss, relationships, and life are just easier for everyone else.
Even when we witness other people’s struggles we forget. My friend doesn’t remember that in the middle of my initial effort to lose weight that my husband suffered a life-changing wellness-challenge that made it hard for him to get out of bed. While he’s much better now, there were some tough times that would have been easy to use as an excuse for giving up.
Everyone has had their share of struggle and challenge that they have overcome—including you. What you have overcome in your life is amazing. How much more powerful—and empowering—is it to compare you with you?
As my friend, mentor, and coach, Jennifer Barley recently blogged, luck is about “having intentions, aligning your actions, sending out the right kind of energy, leading with your heart, and being in the now.” The only thing I would add is it’s also letting go of comparing your success to anyone else’s.
Begin to reframe your journey. Look at and celebrate how far you have come. And if you’re not where you want to be, what is one small step you can take to begin moving in the direction you want to go? How does that begin to change your luck?
Together we can do it!
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Goss Coaching 
Hi Hanna,
As well as beginning therapy to get me out of my ED cycle (hopefully for good) I’ve managed to come up with a little self-help program of my own. So many people told me how beautiful I looked on my wedding day (and some hadn’t seen me properly dressed up before) that it gave me the boost I needed to quit hiding in slobby jumpers, wear my prettier clothes and EAT. I’ll be taking a picture once a week from now and posting it so that I can see the real me instead of the revolting lump of lard that my brain tells me I am.
This will take a lot of work and dedication for me, but if it helps me to break the cycle of the last 20 years for good then it’s definitely worth it 🙂
Awesome! So glad you are beginning therapy and working to shift your self-perception. Two big steps in the direction of taking care of you! Way to go!
you are so right, luck has nothing to do with it…we make our own luck through the choices we make. I am so enjoying the journey with you!!
Marrying you was the best choice I ever made! Loving the journey with you, too! You are my favorite person on the planet!
Thank you, Gina, for the words of reminder and encouragement. I don’t believe in “luck” but I certainly relate to intentionality, determination, and self-discipline. Aligning choices/actions with intentionality – that’s the tough part. Thanks for reminding me that my self-care ultimately will enable me to do more for others – and so I need to reach in before I reach out. Have a blessed day. You are a blessing!
Thanks, Jan! The only way you have anything to give to others is to take care of yourself first. Thanks for the comments! Hanna
As the old saying goes; “You make your own luck”.
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!
Leading with your heart and being in the now are definitely a powerful recipe for success. There is so much beauty and many more miracles for me when I remember where and who I am right now. Good for you for sticking to your goals and for creating so much yumminess with yourself and in your life. 🙂
Love that you are seeing the miracles when you remember Who you are. So appreciate you, Currie!
🙂
Thank you for this great post. I agree, we can create our own “luck”. We can also choose to focus more on the positive things in our life more than the negative.
Absolutely! We have the power to choose our focus. It takes practice, but that is truly how we begin to change our life. Thanks for commenting!
I’ve lost count of the number of people who told me I was lucky to be rid of my wheelchair. I tell them that luck didn’t have anything to do with it. I worked my fanny off to get where I am. I have the bruises, sore muscles and blisters to prove it. Great post!
Bravo! Congratulations on getting rid of your wheelchair! Awesome inspiration for all of us. Thanks for commenting!
Terrific post!! Have a super day. Renee 🙂
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting!
YOU are most welcome. 🙂