In the 1993 movie Cool Runnings, loosely based on the Jamaican bobsled team, there was a scene I won’t forget.
John Candy played the coach who retired to Jamaica in disgrace after being disqualified from the 1972 Olympics because he cheated. One player, Derice, wanted to know why the coach cheated 16 years ago.
“To win. It was all about winning.”
Not satisfying Derice’s curiosity, the coach then said, “A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you are not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.”
If you’re not enough without it…
Think about it. Who does that remind you of? How many people strive for weight loss…again and again? Or for a svelte figure?
If you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.
As the new year approaches, millions may be thinking of resolutions. Who would have thought 2020 was going to be this? This crazy year. Regardless, I predict we will be bombarded with messages, such as…
• Lose your pandemic weight – get the body you want!!!
• Rid your body of the pandemic pooch!!!
• Ready to drop the COVID 15?
Messages will prey upon people’s insecurities. Who’s to say you are not enough just as you are?
You are enough!
People struggle, often having a preconceived idea weight loss leads to happiness.
Newsflash. It doesn’t.
Consider an issue before weight loss remains an issue after – finances, unfulfilling work, family challenges. It’s all there. Those issues do not poof magically go away with the weight.
Does the diet industry want you to succeed?
In a world where dieting/diet culture is prevalent, according to Market Research data, we spend over $70 billion annually. That’s a boatload of money to lose if people were suddenly OK with themselves.
Imagine a life without diets. What would happen to industries pushing pills, potions, products, and programs promising a better life? What if people stopped dieting, stopped obsessing about a number on the scale? What if you were told you’re beautiful and perfect just as you are?
Think about it.
Here’s the thing. The diet industry does not want you to succeed. Well, it does, just not forever.
Because where would it be? It needs your failures, your insecurities. Diet culture needs you to be unhappy with yourself. It wants you to think you need “to be fixed.” You don’t.
For your emotional health, why not accept where you are now? You’re given one body, one life.
Experience the joy in life where you are now – perhaps then you’ll want to move more, fuel your body with nutrient-rich food, restore your rest. Not because you’re told you’re not good enough but because you know you deserve to know you are.
Remember, if you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.
Let’s connect if you need help — schedule a complimentary session at https://www.bit.ly/meetwithneily.
