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Fit is not a number on a scale. In shape is not one form. Healthy looks and feels different for each person. Our sense of fulfillment is created by various means. Our sense of purpose evolves along with us.
Up until recently our society has only been presented with limited definitions of all these terms. And we’ve been conditioned to judge ourselves if we can’t squeeze into these unrealistic expectations.
It’s not our fault. The backbone of our economy depends on a certain level of dissatisfaction with our lives. But I’m grateful we’re in a time where we’re now starting to see more representatives of sizes, shapes, shades, abilities and activities of humans. It takes a rebellious nature to defy the narrow definitions imposed by our society. I hope this rebellion is only just beginning.
I’m not going to gauge my fitness by whether I can squeeze into a size 0 or by how many inches I can pinch on my waist. I have softness to my body as well as tone and that’s perfectly healthy. For me, my litmus test for my health is whether I can move easily and painlessly. Can I do all things I want to be doing? Are all my organs, joints, muscles, bones, bodily functions doing the best they can? Are loving, centered thoughts the predominant ones occupying my mind and motivating my actions? If it’s a yes, then I feel fit. If not, I focus on the areas I’d like to progress in, trying my best to be gentle with myself in the process.
The truth is, one person’s state of being could be an impossibility for another but both can feel at peace for being at their version of optimal wellness or at least striving for it bit by bit each day. The more we start to fill up our minds with this fact, the less room we’ll have for harshly judging ourselves and others.
When you take a moment to reflect on where you are and what you can do with your body, your mind, and energy you have now—what do you see? Are you choked inside unrealistic expectations or are you allowing for a more comfortable self-view that stretches along with you as you make incremental progress and change?
In the end, it's not about fitting into society's confining corsets of expectations, but about redefining wellness on our own terms. As we continue this journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, I hope we celebrate the diversity of human experience and find peace in our individual paths towards optimal wellness. May we all find a way to embrace the space we’re in, and remember, we’re alive—and that's something worth cherishing.
If you or someone you know is looking to partner with someone while making health progress on their terms, I’d be honored to be of service.
I offer one-on-one, couples and family counseling as well as lead support groups, helping my clients find their optimal wellness and a supportive community.
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