Too often we deny ourselves of the love and respect we deserve. We do so by shying away when others give it or through keeping a cruel commentary of our worth running through our own minds. For me, a lack of self-love manifests itself in telling myself “I am not good enough” in a variety of ways. 

• “I’m not a good enough mom”.
• “I’m not patient enough”.
• “I’m not caring enough”.
• “I’m not going to be able to achieve my goals".
• yada yada yada….

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Most of the time, those sayings and feelings arise when I face other difficult emotions and don’t know how to handle them. I used to cruelly nitpick at my appearance and call myself chubby, plain, unattractive, someone nobody would want, and so much more. I battled a lot more than just a diminished confidence in my appearance, though – feelings of hatred, hurt, fear, troubling relationships with many around me, stress from school. Even today, I have to watch myself when things get stressful. My “fat days” often coincide with the days I have trouble in the face of other issues.

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So many times, I discover that I do not in fact feel “fat”. Instead I feel overwhelmed and realize I need to give myself a break. Or I have something I need to share with someone who may have hurt my feelings a bit. Before I used food to shove down and hide the emotions I truly felt. Then, I began to use negative words to bury myself.

Over the years, I have gotten pretty good at pinpointing where a negative thought really comes from. Most of the time a source exists. Figuring out what instigates my frustrations helps me stop the negative thoughts before they consume me.That isn’t to say I have an “a-ha moment” and then everything turns fine and dandy afterwards. It simply helps me more appropriately face the issue at hand, without causing unnecessary damage to myself in the process.

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Do you think you use negative talk or harmful physical actions (such as binging, over-exercising, restricting, not sleeping, etc) as a way to cover up deeper feelings? Why do you think we do this? Any tips for recognizing the true source of our frustrations? I liked to simply ask “Why?” about everything. Whenever I feel myself getting emotional or negative I ask “why?”. I don’t deny my feelings, but when I realize the source often I realize its insignificance and move on naturally.

How is it already Saturday late afternoon? I feel like I was constantly busy today, but can’t even remember what I exactly did. I hate that feeling. I know I grocery shopped. I know I did my long run. I know I played with my precious little ones. And I stopped at the gym to snag a few pictures for an upcoming exercises post. Well – I guess that does all add up to a busy day! But I still want my Saturday back.

Thankfully I had fun plans yesterday so today’s “just-another-day” feeling doesn’t have to bother me too much. I hung out with a good friend who I haven’t seen in way too long. In fact, Em and I haven’t seen each other since our boys were not even a month old!

And now just look at them…

Time goes so fast! Yet even though we somehow managed months without getting together – those dang busy schedules – we picked up like we saw each other just last week. The true mark of a special friendship, if you ask me. We talked and talked…until particular little boys got hungry and sleepy and we wanted to avoid metldowns. So, Em, thanks for a special day! Love you!

Tiiiimmmmeeee for this week’s features!

Featured Post: Reaching the Happy Weight Goal

Featured Workout: Circuit Training Work

Featured Meal: My Entire Tuesday Eats

Featured News: Fitfluential Ambassador – I Applied (& You Rocked Helping!)

Featured Cuteness: Baby B and Green Beans (made by mama!)

Featured Reading: This Week’s Strengths Out Loud Women!

So many great women with different strengths to motivate and inspire. Show them love!

• Do you ever have days where you can barely remember what you did?
• Can you go awhile without seeing someone and it still feel like normal when you do get together?