Walk a mile in my shoes

Know what it's like to be me, whatever "I" am!
Understand me
Through experience of me, as me
Can you do that?
Be imaginative.
What do you see, hear, feel?
Now give me back my shoes!

Ask and it is given

That's what we're told.
Do you believe it?
Do you feel it?
Do you Will it?
From whom does it come?
Are you sure?
Then, so be it!

Interesting!

And then what?
What happens after our initial interest wanes?
Further exploration.
Provided interest is maintained.
Desire being a key component.
For more of the same, or similar.
And it's OK if we fancy doing or being something different!

We know when we're touched

Physically.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Reaching out with a compassionate heart takes courage.
Always being compassionate with myself and others is not something I find easy to do.
I may feel it, but many of us Brits have been 'taught' not to show it.
How would the world be if we all behaved compassionately?

It's just not possible ...

To be inquisitive all of the time!
Or, is it?
In 7 Words, we say mastery is balancing all 7 all of the time.
A tall order.
And a worthy aim.
I'm still learning.
And it's a great adventure.

We are what we eat

Isn't that what people say?
What does it mean?
What we eat affects how we feel.
As does how we eat it!
An attitude of gratitude helps.
Together with taking care of food production and consumption.
It's all part of taking care of ourselves.

Going out for lunch

Not an excuse to over-indulge
An experience to be savoured
For the pleasure it brings
Good food, good company, pleasant surroundings
One course is enough
No need for more
Delight in sufficiency and restraint.

Why am I doing this?

Honestly?
To share my thoughts about dieting and healthy living.
To give myself a pat on the back when I'm doing well.
And, a kick up the backside when I'm not.
Does it work?
It does when I'm committed to it - my diet.
And I have to accept the consequences when I'm not!

Ask for help

No way!
Why not?
I shouldn't have to.
Who gave you that idea?
Things are much easier when we have help.
And much harder when we don't.
So ask!

Ending an exchange

What ends an exchange?
Is it the giving and receiving?
Is it feelings of gratitude?
Is it communion?
Communion is beyond exchange.
It's taking things into the outward expression of Thanks
And showing appreciation.

An attitude of gratitude

Whatever is going on
If we can be grateful
We'll feel better
So, in every situation, look for something for which you can be grateful
Being grateful and feeling great
Are wonderfully attractive
Try it!

Exchanging ideas

What do you think?
Is this a good idea?
Only if you're interested.
Otherwise it's a pain.
We have to ask to find out.
Unless information is offered unsolicited.
Then we still have to decide whether or not to accept it.

Exchange

Giving and receiving ...
Giving my attention to what's being received (given)
Noticing that
Deciding to continue
Receiving
Processing
Reciprocating

Acceptance requires openness

Rejection requires being closed
Ideas cannot be entertained without a degree of openness
They may not stick if disliked
But they might - causing us to change
What we want is what we want
No point denying it
Acceptance requires openness

It's my fault!

You've done nothing wrong.
No-one can.
I just feel bad.
And I have to do something about that.
So, when I make a mistake, and feel bad
I make amends.
Otherwise the bad feeling persists.

Please ask!

I'm not a mind reader.
How can I know what you want if you don't say?
And when I ask what you want, it's infuriating when you say "Please yourself."
I can do that ... please myself, without knowing what you want.
But sometimes I want to know what you want.
And you need to tell me, honestly.
Then we can start negotiating.

Are you good at choosing and asking for what you want?

It's over!

This is the end
Of the beginning
You can feel it
Can't you?
We're moving on
To bigger and better things
Together.

What's to be done?

Giving our all!

This isn't easy, is it?
Why?
Because we have to be 100% aligned
With whatever is being asked of us
By ourselves or another
Otherwise we'll hold something back
And we'll know it.

Do you often give gestures of appreciation?

Open for business

Now I'm open!
How may I help?
Does this feel good?
If not, let's try something else.
That's better!
Does it still feel good?
GrEAT!

Rejecting openness

Closed!
I do not want to know.
**** off!
Go away!
I choose this state at this time.
Please respect that.
I accept its consequences.

You don't need anyone's permission but your own!

What you permit is all that counts.
Everybody else's business is exactly that.
We need to feel good about what's going on in our lives.
And ditch anything that doesn't.
There's plenty to choose from.
If we only look  ... and see.
Pay attention!

Who cares?

Very few, if any! Apart from yourself, maybe?
Most other people are too busy worrying about themselves.
You've got to like and look after yourself.
If you don't, no-one else is likely to want to.
Attractiveness attracts!
For better, or worse.
SO, what are you attracting?

Are you good at choosing and asking for what you want?

Please may I have your attention?

No?
Fair enough!
Those who want to listen, will.
Those who don't, won't.
No problem.
None of us have anything to apologize for.
Or was the request intrusive?

Do you prevent people taking advantage of you?

Goodbye!

I don't want this.
No offence. I just don't want it.
So, "Thanks, but no thanks!"
This is not for me.
Have fun!
That's what I'm intending to do.
You have fun too.

Are you good at avoiding being stuck in a rut?

At what cost?

Giving attention is easy ... at first.
Then resistance kicks in ... unless you're enjoying yourself.
Then what?
How do you act?
Energy follows intent.
So stay and pay the price, or leave and pay the price.
What price? Enjoyment!

"Hello! Hello! Hello!"

"What's going on 'ere then?"
Curiosity!
A desire to know.
And once we know, then what?
We can't unknow.
We can only decide whether for us it's worth knowing.
And only you know that!

Attention is everything!

Whether it's given freely or grabbed.
Each individual controls where his or her attention remains focused.
If we don't like something,
we can refocus,
on things we do like,
including the absence of something,
which is an essential quality of it.

 

Don't kid yourself!

You can't anyway.
Our bodies never lie!
We know and feel the truth ... our truth.
We just have to admit it ... firstly, to ourselves.
Then to others, as part of a declaration of change.
Therein lies the road to a better future.
Permit yourself to know and speak your truth.

Repairing the damage.

I've abused my body for long enough! It's time to take better care of it.
How will I know when I'm doing this?
I'll feel better.
What does this involve?
Better eating habits.
More exercise.
Seeing and feeling my body change, so it will willingly do what I ask of it.

No! I want the truth.

However seemingly unpalatable.
I can always look at things a different way.
A way that feels better.
Not to avoid the truth.
To change my thinking.
There's always another perspective, another way.
I just have to find it. What is it?

Make that change!

Knowing the truth, don't wait, make the change!
You know it makes sense.
You can feel it.
Do it now!
A whole new future then unfolds.
One in which you control what happens.
Forget about what others think or say, do this for yourself.

Thank the truth-teller!

Reject lies.
Know the truth about yourself.
It may feel uncomfortable for a while.
But it's the only way to grow.
And you want to improve, right?
To be better than before.
So thank the 'truth-teller' - whoever, or whatever, that may be!

Tempted again?

It will never stop!
So why not change your attitude?
You can feel good,
by deciding your attitude.
Ask yourself, do I really want this? What will it give me?
What might I want instead?
Accept either answer and delight in it!

Rejecting rejection!

If we do this - reject rejection -
We violate ourselves!
These are strong words I know.
Yet rejecting what we dislike is a fundamental right and necessity.
We must practice it consciously
To establish, maintain and refine our ability to do so.
Only when our No is strong does our truth emerge.

No choice but to accept?

Not true!
There's always a choice.
Consequences will differ.
Someone may be upset or offended.
That someone could even be you,
If you don't make the right choice for yourself.
So accept who and how you are, then choose.

What are the consequences of my choices?

No idea?
Time to find out.
How can we feel good about ourselves
If we don't know the consequences of our choices?
Imagine ...
Then care.
Then act.

Are you good at choosing and asking for what you want?

Does this depend on what we mean by good? No!
We know what 'good' means in this context.
We can feel how good we are at this.
So, can you choose?
And ask?
Choosing is one thing. Asking is another!
And can you accept no as an answer?

What choices do you make?

Positive ones?
Choices that improve your life?
Choices that make you feel better?
Choices that take you in the direction you want to go?
Or do some choices find you confused and uncertain?
Do you think things through and expect the unexpected?
Are you prepared?

Are you grateful for your body?

The size and shape of your body are choices.
Gratitude is also choice.
A feeling. A gift.
An act.
An attitude.
A responsibility.
A permit.

What is your gratitude permitting?

So many choices!

We always have choice.
Including our attitude to what is.
And how we're feeling.
How can that be?
Because we have free will.
What we choose is our responsibility. No-one else's.
Are you enjoying your choices ... and their effects?

No choice but to face temptation!

Biscuits, cake, bread, chocolate
All present in abundance this weekend
Lovingly brought by workshop delegates for shared meals
All resisted by me
Without the feeling of missing out
Temptation tamed!
Yes.

Work in progress

I haven't yet reached my target weight.
My sub-conscience has a lot to say about that! Does yours?
I can see and feel where I'm carrying my extra fat.
My task is to shed it!
I will do this, and I'm well on the way.
I weigh myself every day
And accept that it's taking time ... but it's happening!

Forgive yourself - release guilt and blame.

Guilt and blame are not helpful.
Except as indicators that the past (an old habit?) still has a hold on you.
Feeling good right now, every new moment, is all that matters.
Anything motivated by, or resulting in, guilt or blame is wrong. Don't do it!
Be responsible.
Accountable for all your actions.
Therein lies freedom - freedom to choose who and how you are!

Do you accept who and how you are?

If not,
what do you want to do about it?
How will that make you feel?
What's stopping you?
See yourself how you are and how you'd like to be.
Forget what you think others might think.
And make that change.

Is this a habit? Is it healthy?

Habits aren't necessarily 'bad'.
Some are 'good'.
E.g. thinking 'good feeling' thoughts.
Think your 'best' thought (about what you're eating, and the consequences)
And you won't go far 'wrong'.
Boy! What a lot of ''''''!
But you know what I mean, yeah?

Are you healthy?

Being unhealthy is not fun.
To be healthy we need to be alert.
Find and feel your own healthy balance.
And stick to it.
Explore and expand your repertoire by all means.
But don't overdo it.
There will be consequences, either way!

What do I expect?

When I don't stick to my diet,
How can I expect not to put on weight?
I love food.
It nourishes me.
Up to the point of excess.
Then it's my responsibility to stop.
Each and every time I'm faced with food.

There's more to me than meets the eye!

I am not just my weight and shape.
We all have ideas about weight and shape.
How these ideas make us feel is up to us.
They do not have to determine how we act, unless they do.
Then what?
What are we going to do about it?
I-dent-it-Y?

Accept good things from the abundance that is life!

Life is abundant.
It's amazing.
Why then do we sometimes feel 'bad' or 'down'?
Why can't we "snap out of it"?
Well-being is our birthright, but we've got to want it.
Breathe, move, make sound.
Walk in nature ... feel its abundance ... and align with it.

Who cares?

If you don't care about yourself and your appearance,
It's doubtful others will, for long, unless they have to.
Why should they ...
If you can't be bothered?
It's time to take stock.
How do you want to be?
Are you sure?

Whose help do you need?

The gym I go to has expert, free help available all the time, which is great!
They're always willing to offer new ideas and ways to exercise.
Then I have to value myself and my body enough to follow their suggestions.
Generally, I do.
Though, returning today after Christmas and a cold, to three sessions a week was a little tough.
But hey, I'm worth it!
Aren't you?

What can you give up?

I no longer eat sweet biscuits and cake at work.
I eat fruit instead.
I also like raw veg.
Cutting out high-calorie snacks is the key.
Preparing raw veg takes a little more effort than buying fruit.
But it's worth it.
To be healthy.

Giving your body gifts!

Everything you eat or drink is a gift to your body,
'good' or 'bad'!
Feel good about all the gifts you give your body,
not just some of them.
They all count,
so weigh up each and every one,
before they become part of you.

Curious about calories?

A Pre-SI unit of food energy.
Replaced (really?) by Joules.
Each one becoming part of us.
So, how many do you need?
How big do you want to be?
Check the label.
I do.

Starting again?

So here we are ...
At the beginning of another New Year, 2012.
I'm feeling good about the year ahead, excited about my plans.
Particularly my resolution to continue to take good care of my body.
We can all be healthy, if we want.
We need to be careful though.
Trusting our ability to be well ... rejecting all that prevents this.