We hear the term “beach body” literally everywhere! But what does that even mean?
The short answer: a body on, near or going to a beach is, in fact, a beach body.
The long answer is that each one of us has been on a journey with our bodies. That journey has taught us lies about ourselves that we must choose to believe or ignore every single day. Building belief in yourself and feeling confident where you are can feel challenging for most of us, but what if there was another way? What if we challenged those old thoughts and ideas whenever they cropped up and, instead, flipped them into something new?
We all have those times when fear is ruling our thoughts: Fear of the unknown, fear of lack, fear of not being good enough, etc…Of course once we take a closer look, we recognize that our fear is really just False Evidence Appearing Real. Here’s a few simple steps you can use to “flip” that stinkin’ thinkin’ when it creeps in:
- STOP! Ask yourself if your thought or belief is really even true. Chances are it’s not. The way you can tell that something isn’t true is that you begin to feel a little off and out of alignment. Your emotions will feel out of whack. Your body may not feel good physically. You may start to seek things outside yourself for validation. You may want to shop, eat, or escape in other various ways. You may even begin to feel drained. If it makes you feel out of alignment in any way, then it probably isn’t true.
- Share with a trusted friend or loved one. Perhaps write it down in your journal. Give your fear a voice – let it be heard. This takes away the power and allows you to see the truth more clearly.
- Pause. Breathe. Listen to the wise voice of your inner being. Your heart will never steer you wrong.
- It may be helpful to write a list of all the negative thoughts or beliefs you are having in a notebook. On the left side list all the limiting thoughts or beliefs. Make a list of all your fears. Then on the other side, write out the exact opposite in a sentence that is present tense. Use words Like “I am” or “I have.” Even if it doesn’t feel true for you now, write it down anyway. Affirming positive and empowering statements sure beats replaying the same old fears over and over again. Here’s some examples:
Fear-I am afraid of being judged. New belief-All of my experiences are joyous and loving. It is safe to be seen.
Fear-I’m not good enough. New belief-I have everything I need inside me…right now.
Fear-Other people’s stuff, gifts, experiences, etc. are better than mine. New belief-I have unique, amazing and incredible gifts to share with the world. I am free to be me.
You get the idea … Now practice these affirmations several times a day. Every time a negative thought comes up, STOP! Ask yourself if it’s true. Now affirm the opposite. Do it over and over again until you feel a shift in your energy. It takes commitment and practice, but it works. It really does.
5. Give thanks. Expressing gratitude creates the space for even more to be grateful for. Say thank you for the awareness your fear has offered you. Even if you don’t mean it yet, do it anyways. Your thoughts and feelings will flow to where your attention goes. Choose the good ones!
