We’ve all heard the phrase “New Year, New Me.”
But, do we really need to think of ourselves as a “new” person because we made some lifestyle adjustments?
Change is perhaps one of the only constants in life. Our cells are continually dying off and being replaced. Odds are, very little (if anything at all) in our bodies is actually original parts.
Beyond our cells, our behaviors and interests often change over the years. Ever know a hothead that eventually mellowed out? Ever known someone that picked up a new hobby, like knitting or pickleball?
Even with those changes, I don’t know how much we say that a person is “new” or fundamentally different.
But yet, with our looks, it is often another matter. I’ve changed my hair over the years, which means that I’ve had new looks but I wouldn’t say that my new looks constitute a new me. It’s the same me, just with different hair.
And, since I’m a personal trainer, there is obviously the topic of changes to our body composition.
The first week of January is the fitness industry equivalent of Black Friday. It’s when tens of millions of people decide to become a new person physically in the New Year. Far too often, however, people struggle to keep exercising for as long as they had initially hoped.
While that is certainly a good topic to discuss more broadly, I want to focus on a specific angle that I think is important.
Self love.
If you are one of the millions of people looking to change your body in the coming New Year, do you love yourself, unconditionally, exactly as you are right now?
I hope you do.
You are worthy of love and dignity.
Your current body size or shape does not in any way detract from your worth.
Love yourself.
Recognize your worth and hold your head high.
The reason I say this is because trying to be fit when coming from a place of self-hatred will not work. You are you and, while parts of you (hair, clothing style, body shape) change over the years, you will always be you.
Coming from a place of self hatred means, at least for some, the creation of an imaginary and idealized image of themselves that they think is someone worthy of love. “If only I looked like that, then I could love myself.”
But that mentality creates an impossible image to turn into a reality. No matter how much new muscle is gained or how much body fat is lost, the image in the mirror will never materialize into that imagined future self that will one day be worthy of love.
This is why it important, in my opinion, to approach fitness from a place of loving yourself now and, from that place of love, wanting to treat your body better.
I believe that love is a far more powerful driver of action than hate. Hate is exhausting. It’s miserable. Love, on the other hand, drives us to great lengths. Have you ever gone out of your way to help someone you love? Could you imagine expending that same amount of energy or commitment on someone you despise? The same applies to how you view yourself.
When you love yourself you can tap into a level of motivation and drive that self hatred can never produce.
So, my challenge to you this New Year isn’t to think of becoming a “new you” but, rather, to love yourself and treat yourself with kindness, compassion, grace, and (perhaps) a bit more physical activity than what you currently do.
Love yourself. Love your body. Treat it well and it will treat you well in return.