Recently I’ve been embarking on a journey that’s been long overdue: the journey of finally taking care of me.
This is quite the stretch outside of my comfort zone.
I have always been the person who looks for ways to ease the burdens of others, but never my own.
I look for ways to meet other people’s needs, and put that as my primary priority. And I didn’t just put my needs on the back burner. Oh no, my needs weren’t even on the stove! They were back in the deep freezer somewhere frost bitten, neglected and forgotten.
I always thought that prioritizing my own needs was in some way selfish. It’s a process that I’m “unlearning”. Because now, at 29 years old— I have more clarity in what my personhood brings to any table that I’m invited to sit at. The wrapping paper, or rather, the body that my personhood is wrapped in has been full on neglected.
I broke up with my vanity addiction in my early 20’s. Since that time I’ve neglected my health.
No more.
Since late February I’ve decided to change my eating habits & pursue a workout regimen..
We’re in a process of creating “Andrea 2.0“ so to speak.
One interesting thing I’ve noticed in this process is the common mantra: “consistency is key”.
The thing is— everyone is consistent. Truly. Everyone.
Think about it.
If you’re not someone who eats healthy, you are consistently someone who eats unhealthy.
If you are someone who walks less than 50 steps a day, you might consistently be a couch potato.
I would know, I was one.
The thing is, we’re all consistent in what we’re consumed by.
If we’re consumed by comfort, we’ll be consistent in habits that continue to create comfort.
If we’re consumed by growth, we’ll be consistent in habits that continue to create growth.
A person who is consumed by growth prioritizes the right behaviors regardless of their feelings. A person who is consumed by comfort allows their feelings to dictate their behavior.
It’s a power struggle between who I am today versus the version of me I’m yearning to become.
Just because you have a thought doesn’t make it true.
Nor does your feelings have power unless you allow them to.
You are not your feelings.
You are not your thoughts.
You are your choices. Your convictions. Your pursuits. Your habits.
If you don’t like the you that you’ve become, do one thing today that your future self will thank you for.
Then do it again tomorrow.
And keep going, until you become who you’ve earned the privilege to be.
andrea statler 