Do You Talk to Yourself?

I think part of any journey is to expect the unexpected. I expected to come home from work and make something healthy and delicious for dinner by 6 p.m. Instead my husband was waiting for me to take him somewhere, which I was happy to do. Now it's 8 p.m. and I'm famished. This is where I would typically give in to junk food cravings. I got up at 4 a.m. to get a fresh start to my day, prayer, meditation, get my workout in, make my green smoothie, and pack a light lunch before I headed off to work eight hours at a sedentary job, which I am grateful for. So, I'm tired and hungry, not a good combination for staying on track.

This is where determination and positive self-talk comes in:

Healthy Self: Fortunately, there isn't a lot of junk food in the house.

Old Habits Self trying to head Healthy Self off at the pass: I'm thinking a few steamed potatoes and some fruit sounds good.

Healthy Self: It's probably too late to be eating so close to bed time. Are you sure you're not just thirsty or tired?

Old Habits Self seeing the light (or too tired to fight): Good point healthy self, I think I'll drink a tall glass of cold water, go to bed and have the potatoes with some fresh salsa tomorrow for lunch.

Healthy Self: That's my girl. I'm proud of you for listening to me, I mean your body.

Old Habits Self: Ya, ya, maybe I'll put up more of a fight next time.

Healthy Self: Bring it girlfriend. P.S. I love you.

Old Habits Self: You do? I love you too and can't wait to meet you in the flesh someday soon! Thanks for looking out for me.

I didn't have that entire conversation all at once tonight, but it has come to me as I write, so it's what I'm thinking.

My plant-based nutrition coach, Katherine Nilbrink, who I will formally introduce you to in an upcoming blog, said something to me today that I believe triggered my healthy self to speak up! She said to see myself as the person I want to be. What would that person do and say. Well, I just found out. She spoke directly to me and said, you're thirsty, you're tired. You're not famished. In fact, you're not really that hungry at all. Just go to bed and start fresh in the morning.

Call me crazy if you want, but I have been talking to my healthy self a lot lately and see her in my mind's eye. She's healthy, fit, energetic. She has been waiting forever to come out and experience all the adventures and opportunities life has to offer instead of sitting on the sidelines or hiding in plain sight in a morbidly obese body watching life pass by. I am welcoming her with open arms and have only one question for her... What has taken you so long?!

Do you talk to yourself? If so, what do you say? Is it positive and life-affirming? It should be. Why? Because it's a #DayofPositivity. More importantly, because positive self-talk works and so does negative self-talk. The best part? We get to choose with every thought we think!

"Turn up the volume on positive thoughts and delete the negative ones." ~ Niko Everett