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Progress and Positivity: Embracing the Journey
A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Your Waistline
In our pursuit of progress, we often seek reassurance and validation through numbers and measurements. In my world as a health coach, my clients often look to the numbers from stepping on the scale or using a tape measure to show inches we’ve removed. But this quest for certainty can sometimes lead to self-doubt and mental turmoil. Let’s explore two common scenarios that arise.
The first scenario is the pleasant surprise. Whether we fear the worst, believing we haven’t done enough, or we feel great and want to see it in the number that comes back to us, we have a moment or two of intense anticipation followed by happiness and sometimes relief. In these moments, consider the times when we feel like we “couldda done more.” Let it sink in that you can still make progress even though we had balance and joy or weren’t totally, 100%, perfect. Remember, perfection is not required. This indicates that our current path is sustainable in the long run and isn’t that the ultimate goal?! Celebrate this magic moment and recognize the progress, no matter how small it may seem. On the flip side, we might feel fantastic and energized, but the moment of reckoning — the progress report — disappoints us. It’s crucial to remember that progress is not solely defined by one number or measurement. Look beyond the scale and consider other metrics like body fat percentage and tape measurements. Even better, remember how wonderful you felt just moments ago! Learning to measure progress by energy, self-esteem and other markers is a critical element of our growth. And consider that progress is rarely linear, fluctuations are natural. Give yourself grace. Consider external factors such as the time of day, clothing worn while on the scale, and the time since your last tracking of these measurements.
As a general note, we must also be mindful of the timing and frequency of measurements. Obsessively checking progress daily can lead to undue stress and hinder your journey. With my coaching clients, I recommend measuring once a month, allowing time for meaningful changes to occur, avoiding the daily fluctuations (and drama) so we can appreciate the bigger picture and learn to measure and monitor ourselves with other tools between these measurement dates. Additionally, any time…
