A Healthy You: Going Against the Norms

"For you formed me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139: 14 

The new year brings a desire for a new you. Whether that be a new body, mind, or spiritual thing, we all tend to make goals at this time. We don’t always speak them out loud or even acknowledge our need for change, but it is there. Many of us want more: more structure, more organization, more exercise, more healthy eating, more calm and loving parenting. We strive to do better and be better. While that is not a bad thing (to do better and be better), our strategy may be a little off.

We are constantly told how we can do better and be better. Our inboxes are flooded with the latest craze to a healthy lifestyle or the ten ways to move up in our careers. Our social media feeds seem to read our minds and strategically place ads that are like cryptonite to our floundering souls. It is hard for us to turn off the noise. So very hard.

What if doing better and being better doesn’t look anything like what society and culture are telling us? What if we can actually DO and BE better without all that nonsense? I believe we can.

A healthy you isn’t equal to a smaller pant size.

A healthy you isn’t obtained by climbing the corporate ladder.

A healthy you isn’t maintained by having everything in its place at all times.

A healthy you isn’t found in striving.

A healthy you is found in resting in who you were created to be. A healthy you is obtained when we stop striving and start living. A healthy you is discovered when you realize the season you are in and accept it as good. A healthy you starts not in what the world tells us to do to get healthy, but rests solely on His truths and His promises for our lives.

Your value does not lie in the number on the scale.

Your worth is not secured by what you do or don’t do.

You are worthy because you are His.

A healthy you starts with a healthy mindset. A healthy mindset is found in Him: knowing that you are loved just because you are you. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Let’s start there. Let’s start by accepting we are loved so that we may love ourselves.

You are fearfully  and wonderfully made. You cannot do anything to become healthier until you accept this; until you start loving yourself. You cannot love yourself fully until you realize that you are loved; loved no matter what just because you are YOU.

We can all chase that smaller pant size, cleaner home, or big promotion, but it won’t fill us. We will obtain these goals and then what? If we don’t love ourselves because He first loved us, we will never be filled. And if we are never filled, we will never find true health.

A healthy you is found in love. Knowing that you are loved by a Savior created with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose. Find a healthy you this year by finding love: love for yourself just because you are YOU.

Love & Blessings,

Meg