One of the most important skills in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, is to be able to love oneself. Not to the point where one is clouded by the ego and thinks in a narcissistic way, but to the point where accepting one’s shortcomings is easy enough to help you move forward in life. There is very little difference, but the difference is worlds apart.

For example, Tarry hates the fact that he does not conform to the standards of where he should be at in terms of weight. Tarry strives hard to obtain the weight that he wants, telling himself everyday that he is not good enough and that he needs to work harder in changing his lifestyle in order to have a better life. This, in my humble opinion, is an extremely toxic way of thinking. Tarry might obtain the better lifestyle, but he will most likely not be satisfied. He will keep working and working until one day, there is no more chance to work. He could become obsessed with goals such as these that he never really enjoys life because it is never good enough. This is an extreme case, but the point comes across nonetheless.

In the same situation, Jerry encounters the same thing Terry comes across. He strives hard to obtain the lifestyle that he wants, but instead of telling himself everyday that he is not good enough, he might start every day, accessing his gains. “Oh, I am losing weight! That’s great, I am proud of myself so far. I am going to continue on this path.” or “Oh, I am gaining weight. I need to improve some part of my plan so that I can start losing weight.” Either way, he still has the healthier mindset because he accepts his shortcomings and moves on to improving himself whereas Terry just simply kept pounding on the fact that he is not good enough or has not worked hard enough. Jerry will most likely lead a more fulfilling life compared to Jerry due to his ability to love himself and to continually improve himself unlike Terry who simply hates himself and improves himself for that reason. It is all about the intention.

There is a saying that my family has passed around. It says something along the lines of “Your thoughts become your mindset. Your mindset becomes your actions. Leading to your actions defining who you are.” The popular media makes it hard on us as people to love ourselves. We have to be this and that and if we do not conform, it means that we are simply not good enough. And the feeling of not being good enough is never something I want people to experience if it is unnecessary. Personally, I believe that every single person on this planet is an unpolished jade. They simply need to be given the tools to polish themselves from a diamond in the rough into a priceless diamond.