Affirmation: “I am strong and healthy.”
Journal Prompt:
How strong are my boundaries, and how can I improve them?
Self-Care Ritual:
Do you consider yourself to be strong?
How you answer, is based on the context of the question. If we’re talking about how much weight you can dead lift, you might not think you’re particularly strong. But if we’re talking about how well you know yourself, and hold the line on your boundaries, your answer could easily be, “Heck yes, I’m strong!”
Would you say you’re healthy?
Again, the answer hinges on context. If we’re talking about whether or not you exercise every day, and eat a well balanced diet, you might not be all that healthy. But, if we asked how you flow with your emotions, or if you’re meditating in a time of chaos, you may be able to say, “Absolutely, I’m healthy!”
I’m guessing you read today’s affirmation, and then the journal prompt, and thought “What do these two ideas have to do with each other?” And that would be true, if I were just talking about being physically strong and healthy. But our strength and health isn’t just about our physicality.
You can stop by any local gym, and find it packed with strong people. That is, if the ruler you’re using to measure their strength, is how many sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups they can do in 1 minute. Anyone can seem strong, in that context, especially if they’re in the gym every day.
But being strong in a position of weakness, is the truest indication of actual strength.
I’m specifically referencing those times in our lives when we want to be strong, while also feeling our absolute weakest. But we resolve to dig deep; we find our balance, gain control of our fear, and choose a direction for ourselves.
When we’re working on our weaknesses, in order to make our self stronger, that’s when we’re the strongest, and healthiest.
Seeing a bottle of booze, when you’re two weeks sober, and calling your sponsor instead of drinking it…
That is strength and health!
Only eating two or three cookies, and savoring every crumb, instead of gobbling up the entire package in one go…
That is strength and health!
Running into a toxic person, and not falling for their manipulation games, but showing them grace instead…
That is strength and health!
Standing up for yourself, with a co-worker, whose letting you do all the work, while they take credit for it…
That is strength and health!
Each of the moments when you truly love yourself, becomes a boundary marker in your new life. And each time you come through it again, without crossing your original boundary, you’re improving your boundaries… you’re gaining strength, and growing healthier!
So today’s self-care ritual is to assess your current boundaries.
Are they making you feel stronger, or weaker?
Are they making you feel healthier, or less well?
Choose at least one of the ideas from your journaling, and put it into practice.
And then, do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.
Keep practicing enforcing that boundary, and loving yourself, and one day you’ll discover that issue, is no longer an issue.
And you’ll KNOW you ARE strong and healthy!