Weight loss is a common New Year's resolution. We want to lose weight for our health and, of course, to look better. But if our goal is only to shed a few pounds, we miss an opportunity to look at why we repeatedly make self-destructive decisions such as eating badly and not exercising. If we look at the bigger picture, our resolution to improve our physical health can also encompass an effort to gain spiritual fitness.
Here are some simple, universal spiritual concepts that might help you stick with your healthy resolutions for 2008.
Surrender - You would hardly think that surrender would be a part of losing weight. The typical attitude is to muster up as much resolve and bravado as possible, march off to the gym...and then fail one more time.
Instead, I would suggest taking some time to really allow yourself to feel how unhappy being overweight makes you. This isn't wallowing in self-pity but, rather, giving yourself permission to experience the feelings you have about your body when it becomes unhealthy. These feelings, if you truly allow them into your heart, will become your motivation to achieve your goal and maintain it over time.
Responsibility - So many of us say we are genetically pre-disposed to gaining weight, or that we were taught to eat incorrectly, or that we don't have time to exercise. We have a lot of excuses when the reality is that gaining weight comes from eating too much and moving too little. The problem with playing the victim is that it makes you hopeless - if you take responsibility, it means you can change. You have created your own problems and you can change your behavior.
Honesty - I think it is vital to set out on your resolutions with others also engaged in the same journey. There are many commercial weight loss programs that offer camaraderie during the process. Gyms and exercise classes are another opportunity for support. But you can also simply enlist a friend or family member to join you in achieving the goal. I think that nearly every goal is improved when shared with others.
Helping Others - So much self-destructive behavior is fueled by boredom, self-obsession, and self-pity. If you add some volunteer activities into your schedule for the New Year, I suspect you will find yourself feeling more self-esteem and less likely to find solace in overeating. And anything that gets you out of the house and off the sofa can only increase your chances of exercising rather than sinking into depression.
I hope that these general concepts will help you in developing your own weight loss program and inspire you to start your journey toward a healthy 2008.
The Principles
by Patrick Moore
Available now on Lulu.com, Amazon.Com, and BarnesandNoble.com.
