Dieting. It’s been a lifelong hobby. I remember in my senior year of high school– when the yearbook committee asked me to fill out a questionnaire and one of the questions was What is your hobby? As a “joke,” I wrote: Dieting.
And 30+ years later, I ‘ve grown pretty tired of it! Which is how I met Megan Perez, a dietician that believes in tackling the mind as well as the body on the path to healthy living.
Gleaning wisdom from those that have tackled some of our most challenging issues is what the Why Not You?! Series is about. She is the perfect person to lead us through our next step. I just know you’re going to love learning about Megan’s steps in her process from bondage to freedom as she pushed through to pursue her dreams.
If you missed the first post, Silence the Doubts, of the Why Not YOU?! Series you can click here.
Megan is a blonde beauty – slender and sweet. You can tell from the first few minutes of meeting her that she has a gentle spirit. After all, she was voted “Best Personality” in her high school class! Yet she told of a time where she felt insecure and uncomfortable around friends. They loved her, but she didn’t love herself.
Have you heard the story of the frog? Mr. Frog jumped into a pot of water that sat on top of a stove. Relaxing happily, in his new “pond,” Mr. Frog was cozy and comfortable and didn’t notice the water becoming warmer and warmer. Unfortunately, the temperature increased so gradually that it reached the boiling point before Mr. Frog realized what had happened. It was too late for him to be able to jump out of the pot.
Like Mr. Frog, Megan’s pot began to get warmer and warmer… After a Memorial Day weekend of celebrating with her husband and friends, she laid sobbing in her bed, feeling like she had hidden part of herself from those that she loved. The part of her that was struggling with food, doubt, and insecurity.
Distraught, she lay asking herself, “Is this the way you want live for the rest of your life?”
In her sorrow, grasping for the hope of a brighter future, Megan made a decision that became a turning point. She dove into a new mindset. Admittedly, the changes didn’t happen overnight, but took some time and practice.
She started with:
GRATITUDE
The next morning, Megan sat up in bed, put her feet on the ground, and spoke aloud, “Thank you for my legs.” At first it sounded silly and her husband looked at her funny, but she pushed through.
The awkwardness of saying statements of gratitude aloud led her to try a gratitude journal. That wasn’t sustainable, so she continued to verbalize things she was grateful for. As the days went by it became easier and easier, and she became more and more aware of blessings that she had overlooked before.
Now, every day begins with a gratitude statement.
After gratitude, Megan added:
POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
Walking into the bathroom, she looked in the mirror and complemented herself. The first several times she said it, she admits she was joking, not believing a word she heard.
Megan shared her process of developing a more positive mindset:
She thought to herself, “You’re not being logical when the part of you that deals with fears is putting yourself down saying, ‘You’re not good enough, you’re not smart enough.’ You don’t want to listen to that voice. You are not going to take yourself seriously if you don’t respect yourself. So how can you provide good advice for yourself when you make yourself feel bad?”
Each day Megan continued complimenting herself and, over time, she began to believe the kind words.
Last week I heard a speech that said 70% of the thoughts that we have are negative. Really?! I’m not sure I believe that! But even if 35% of our thoughts are negative… would you have a friend that speaks that much negativity into your life?
I wouldn’t. And I hope you wouldn’t. Speech is a powerful tool. There is life and death in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 in the Good News Translation puts it this way, “What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.”
Your words have consequences. Both positive and negative. Both words spoken and words unspoken.
I challenge you this week to take those steps that Megan took. Wake up and when you see that beauty in the bathroom mirror – express kindness to yourself !!! And thank God for legs to stand on, or a bed to sleep on. Kindness and gratitude can change our mindset. I love this step because it makes me aware of the zillion blessings I am so fortunate to have.
Tune in next week for the rest of Megan’s tips!!! But for now…fast forward: Megan is free from those insecurities, doubts and fears and has started her own practice!
Throughout our time together a phrase, chock-full of wisdom, keeps popping up, “You have to trust the process,” she says, reminding me that the “process” is daily.
Why not YOU?! Takeaway:
In order to step out into all that God has called us to be, we need to Trust the Process and change our mindset. Changing our mindset means believing what God says about us, believing in ourselves, and being grateful for every little thing. Because…the little things really are the BIG things!
Take a minute and ask yourself:
What will next year look like if you change your mindset, and
What will next year look like if you don’t?
You can connect with Megan by clicking below:
Full Living Nutrition or on Facebook , LinkedIn, Instagram
She offers virtual consultations as well as in office.
(561) 203-9497 |
megan@fulllivingnutrition.com
If you’d like to receive tips from Megan please subscribe in the sidebar and I’ll be sure and send them your way!
This week I’m linking up with some awesome bloggers at: Grace & Truth Linkup, Jamie Sumner, Crystal Twaddell
Laurie says
This post really hit home for me! I have always been a fairly confident person, but as I get older, doubts and insecurities seem to creep in. I used to do a gratitude journal. My goal was to enter one or two things I was grateful each day until I got to 1,000. I stopped after about 90. I thing I am going to dig out that journal and start making entries again. It was a good way to remind myself to have a grateful attitude. I also love the quote from Proverbs. What you say most certainly DOES have consequences. Thanks for the reminder!
Anita Ojeda says
Great advice! It’s crazy how we don’t accept negativity from friends, but we dish it out to ourselves alll the time. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves—but if we’re hating on ourselves, we won’t know how to love our neighbor. I look forward to reading the next installation!
Char says
Absolutely! That was one thing that struck me too – I would never have a friend speaking such negativity to me!
Char says
Lori, Thanks for sharing. Megan insists that we need to “practice” being positive. I’ve learned how important it is to value ourselves like we would any other friend! It will be a wonderful feeling when you 100 gratitudes…then 150! 90 is a great start!
Tammy Kennington says
I needed this reminder today! Thanks!
Char says
Thanks for stopping by Tammy!
Becky Hastings says
I love this encouragement today! Real and heartfelt, it reminds us how much we all have in common as well as where to start when we want to change.
Char says
We are not so unique- in some ways. Same struggles and same opportunities. That’s why I love gleaning from others that have overcome!
Patrick Weseman says
I am getting better at trusting the process. I am basically hardwired not to trust (long childhood story), so trusting things especially when it involves humans is hard for me but as I am getting older I am getting better at it.
Thanks for this. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Char says
I think trusting yourself and God is a perfect place to start. You have a great week Patrick!
Maree Dee says
I love Megan steps. I am writing about “Joy” this month. This post fits so well. I will be sharing it on FB in a minute. Thank you!
Char says
Thanks for sharing Marie Dee!
Maree Dee says
Thank you for sharing on Grace & Truth Link-Up.
Rachel Lee says
I have a lifelong love/hate relationship with dieting too. Several years and 8 kids later, it’s a real struggle. It’s amazing how positive affirmations truly can change your mindset! Thanks for the encouragement to begin practicing “loving myself” again. 🙂
Char says
The whole “loving” myself has been an interesting exercise. I’m so task oriented…
Jerralea says
This was a great post! I do fully believe that a good portion of our thoughts toward ourselves can be negative. I’ve been working on mine for a lifetime it seems! I am much better than I used to be, but boy, let something happen and it is amazing how the first person I blame is me!
Char says
Ok, Jerralea, join me!! We can do this!!!!
Marilyn Lesniak says
I have a book of womens affirmations. I read one each day. Thank for hosting! Today I brought my Avocado Egg Bake, Blueberry Cheesecake and a Creamy Grape Salad. I invite you to join me at #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Have a wonderful week.
Char says
Yum avocado egg bake! Gotta check it out!! Which book?
sue says
I still get insecure thoughts running through my brain. This was sweet and practical. Thanks to you both! And I think dieting does need to be my new hobby…
Char says
Nooooooo! Megan taught me that dieting just causes me to go crazy
Jamie@TheMomGene says
Oh man, yes! Positive affirmations are SO necessary in a world that shouts so loudly that you could be better if you just tried harder. Affirmations and gratitude keep me grounded thanks for sharing this, Char ☺️
Char says
Society does place some heavy requirements that aren’t very doable.
Lisa notes says
I wonder what percentage of my own thoughts are negative. 70% sounds really high to me too, but I need to think about it to make sure I’m not doing that to myself. Thanks for this advice here to trust the process!
Char says
I sure hope it’s no where near 70% for any of us. Otherwise how would we ever hit pubilsh?!!!!
Gayl says
Gratitude and positive affirmations! I need to remember this and that it is a process. It won’t happen overnight. Blessings to you, Char! Thanks for sharing Megan’s story!
Char says
Thanks Gayl! I love the thought that it’s a process – and our reaching goals will take some time. But why not US?!
SUSAN SHIPE says
It’s like a crazy hobby!!!
Char says
What is??!
Donna Reidland says
It’s amazing what developing a thankful heart can do. Most of us (probably all of us) have so much to be thankful for! Thanks for hosting and sharing your “Why Not …” series.
Char says
I wonder if lack of gratitude is the heart of so many things that holds us back from being all that God created us to be….
~Karrilee~ says
So good… and those tips to start your day? Yeah… no matter what the struggle (or hobby!) – this will help make a difference! (Thanks for the reminder!)
Char says
There is something powerful about hearing our own voices expressing positive and grateful words. Enjoy your week Karrilee!