Today’s article was written by Change Coach Becky Gagnon
I hear this phrase often from people who want to lose weight:
“I just don’t feel like myself at this weight. I want to feel like myself again.”
Here’s the thing though: you ARE yourself.
You are yourself.
Your “you-ness” doesn’t come from your body. How could it? If it did, you’d be a different “you” every second of every day. And definitely at certain times of the month.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t change your body enough to be more yourself. You also can’t change your body enough to be less yourself. You already are yourself. You can’t not be yourself.
It’s so simple that it can be hard to wrap our heads around.
You. Can’t. Not. Be. You.
Your body shape can’t make you “not you” because your body isn’t you. Deep down, you know it.
We know that our body isn’t us because we used to be little babies that didn’t even know our own name. And now we’re fully grown adults walking around with an encyclopedias-worth of facts and opinions.
In 10, 20, 30 years from now, your body is going to look very different than it does now. Will you not be yourself? Of course not!
Let me be clear: it’s not that I don’t know what people mean when they say this. It’s not that I haven’t felt this way. I’ve spoken these exact words!
I used to say “I just want to feel like myself again” when I wanted to lose weight but not worry anyone. I was too embarrassed to say the real problem, which was that I didn’t feel loveable or attractive at my current weight. So I told this seemingly more virtuous tale of “I just don’t feel like myself.” It’s kind of the same “innocence level” as “I just want to be healthy.” We don’t want to admit that we’re chasing a load of brainwashing, so we say things that echo the sentiments of the earth-tone, “wellness”-guru, whole-foods, weight-loss-programs-in-disguise.
Read the rest on Becky’s website here: https://bekaelle.com/blog/losing-weight-wont-make-you-feel-like-yourself
