How do you want to feel? The question that is splashed across the back of Danielle LaPorte’s incredible book The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul
How do you want to feel?
The question we asked during our book club reading last night.
Then an answer, “I want to feel HEALTHY!”
Healthy, what does healthy feel like?
Is it light, is it energetic is it agile?
Is it joy and delight when you can buy off the rack clothing again?
Is it confidence when your children ask you to join them for a bike ride?
Is it comfort as you breathe more easily walking up a hill?
Is it happiness when you look in the mirror?
Is it fun when you join a dance class?
Is it strong when you say no to an extra piece of cake?
Is it flexible when you finally reach your toes again?
Healthy feels different to all of us and feelings are fluid, they will come and they will go.
I can feel healthy today and unhealthy tomorrow depending on how I treat my body.
I feel healthy when I am respecting my body, both inside and out.
I feel healthy when I get enough sleep to wake refreshed and restored.
I feel healthy when I drink lots of fresh clean water.
I feel healthy when I choose clean foods that are as close to nature as possible.
I feel healthy when I take good care of my skin. When I clean my face and remove my make up properly and when I moisturise the dry areas on my hands, legs and feet.
I feel healthy when I choose to be more active. When I walk up the stairs and forget about the lift. When I consistently go to my fitness classes and when I walk to the shop instead of driving.
I feel healthy when I remove chipped nail polish and replace it with a shiny new colour, respecting my sweet toes.
I feel healthy when my hair is clean, brushed and neatly styled.
I feel healthy when I eat enough to fuel my body for the demands placed on it each day and I avoid overindulgence that leaves me feeling heavy and sluggish.
I feel healthy when I love and respect my body.
We all have our own healthy feelings, my healthy is not your healthy.
If you have felt unhealthy for a very long time it may take a while to remember what your healthy feels like. Dig deep, rediscover the feeling and then day by day take actions that bring you closer and closer to feeling healthy again.
The healthier you feel the more you will want this feeling to continue and grow.
Make your declaration in the comments below.
What does healthy feel like for you?
What is one thing you can do today to bring you closer to this feeling?
You have no idea how much I needed to read this post today! I am currently in the middle on losing weight with my main focus on really becoming healthy. I’m still working on it, but these are the things that I am working toward. I know I feel better when I am drinking water and moving my body! –Lisa
Actually many of your feel healthy things are my own!
And the nail polish one – I didn’t initially think about that but it really does help.
Drinking lots of water is a challenge for me. So is physical activity in the winter!
Just the past few days, I noticed a direct correlation between me eating chocolates and sweets and my body itching. I had pregnancy complications in the past where I believe my itching related to what I ate. So of course the minute I stop eating chocolates, the itching goes away.
Goes to show how much we truly are what we eat! To me, healthy is optimizing our bodies and minds to be at their best. And that usually means treating it well: good food, once in a while treats, sleep, water, no stress 🙂
Healthy is sitting on the couch with a sick three year old, cuddling him while his body heals. The dishes can wait – my boy needs me.
Healthy is eating spinach, a sliced tomato with feta cheese, and a chocolate covered strawberry instead of that pan of brownies.
It’s making the best choices I can given the circumstances – and being content with what I have. Thank you for your post.
Kim, I love these healthies and yes it is all about the best choices in many different ways.
I’m really trying to do the clean eating thing – trying not to eat processed foods. Two things that definitely make me feel healthy are drinking plenty of water and doing gentle yoga. Bliss!
Mo, how good do you feel after a restorative yoga session. Yes you got it Bliss