SHOW ME HOW GOOD IT CAN GET
Hello there! I hope this week finds you reminding yourself that you can always be on the lookout for the good stuff in life. I'm drinking Irish Breakfast tea (one of the very good things in my life) and thinking about how I want to expand.
This month over on the Fat+Happy Patreon, the theme is EXPANSION. Ever since I stopped desperately trying to shrink my body, I'm obsessed with what it means to expand. My body has expanded, not just in terms of size, but also in the way I hold myself. I love to spread out when I sit and I walk so much more confidently than I used to. I'm not hiding from the space I take up.
I've spent the past decade asking myself what's possible in the body I have, rather than an imagined version of myself. I'm also asking myself what expansion looks like as a woman in her forties, fifties and beyond. These questions were tentative at first and sometimes colored by the fat phobia and ageism I'd picked up over the years (always a treat to unpack those things!). But as I continue to ask, the process gets easier and the answers get more exciting.
As a result, some of the things I've done and didn't think were possible include teaching yoga, leading teacher trainings, filming, performing, taking classes, traveling solo, wearing a bikini in public, creating a podcast, cooking, saying no, napping joyfully, skinny dipping, flying in a float plane, kayaking, making new friends, hiking, and writing regularly...specifically this weekly newsletter.
I used to tell myself that I needed to look a certain way and probably be younger, but all that did was shrink my world. When I began asking "what if?", the possibilities got bigger and bigger and suddenly "what if?" became "why not?!".
So ask yourself "what if?', or better yet, stand up right now and shout "SHOW ME HOW GOOD IT CAN GET!". This fantastic phrase came from my wonderful friend and podcast co-host, Stephanie Archer. In one of our episodes, I asked her if she had a mantra or catch phrase, and this is what she shared. I've started using it in my own life, especially when I'm saying no to myself or talking myself out of something I really want to try. Instead of listing all the reasons it might not work or how I'll probably hate it, I say "show me how good it can get!".
And while I can't ultimately control the outcome, I'm so down for this more expansive and joyful approach. I believe that your life should expand over time, and asking yourself how good it can get every single day is a great place to start!
As always, I'd love to hear about it! How are you expanding? What does it feel like to let go of societal limits and give yourself permission to grow and explore? Do you have a mantra that kick-starts your day? Let me know in the comments below!
As you move through this week, remember to treat yourself and your body with love, respect and kindness.
Much love,
Helen xo
