Finding Joy

We live in a crazy world where negative stories and experiences are well regarded, supported, shared, tweeted and liked. We see people make comments that make your skin crawl and yet, like a train wreck, find it hard to look away. I would be lying if I said I didn't creep a post here and there just to see how people are reacting and engaging with said content.

But what if you wanted to create a different kind of scenario for people? What if you INTENTIONALLY decided to create a reality that is happy, outgoing and joyful. Where people were encouraged to share themselves, that judgments would not be tolerated and where people would live their best lives possible. I decided to take a leap and surround myself with people just like that and honestly, the fall out and repercussions of that decision has 100% changed my life.

In the beginning I honestly joined an accountability group for strictly selfish reasons. I wanted to lose weight, I wanted to look amazing in a bathing suit, I wanted cellulite gone and I wanted muscles to pop. I had ZERO vision of when and how, I just wanted it YESTERDAY. I had ZERO intentions of helping others achieve these goals and legit laughed out loud when my coach asked me if I had ever thought about running my very own online accountability group.

Something started to happen. I started to work on the outside and got amazing results. My very first 'transformation' with a program (21 Day Fix) I lost 17 pounds and tons of inches and I felt ON TOP OF THE WORLD!!

I felt confident, excited about life and that what I was doing was making a difference in MY life. I wanted to keep going for the first time that I could remember and I finally didn't feel like I needed to STOP, to reward myself and that my relationship with food was changing!

You see, I used to AVOID feeling JOYFUL. I didn't realize that in the past, when I start to feel some success, when I started to see "that number" move, when I started to fit into my smaller clothes (come on ladies, we all have "that pile" in back of our closets)....when I started to FEEL good, I would quit. That voice in my head would attempt to convince me (successfully) that I was not worthy of REAL change, long term change and consistent growth.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME. It had a hold on me and if I am being completely honest.....there is still a tiny bit of "it" there. I mean, if you spend SO MUCH of your life allowing "that opinionated voice" win, it is a super hard habit to break!

When we allow ourselves to stop what we are doing because we empathize with others NOT in our predicament, we allow that imposter voice to win. When we forsake our own happiness because it *might* make someone in our life feel bad, we are cutting ourselves off from our truest, fullest selves.

And it has taken A LOT for me to "get there" in terms of my own mindset. I have made excuses to myself, for my situation, in case I hurt people's feelings, in case I am criticized for having found something that I LOVE to do. It might make people feel uncomfortable when I talk about wanting to create MORE in my life. It might make people judge me for wanting to CHANGE career paths and it may seem as though I am abandoning lives in my life who need more of me.

Bottom line you guys, you have to find what you love to do, recognize that it WON'T always be filled with JOY but that we can work hard at winning those moments throughout the day that will continue to PUSH us when we feel like we can't keep up, when it feels like quitting might be a bit easier, when life throws lemons and curve balls.

Create the happiness, find the joy and work hard to be consistent.

How has my vision changed from the days of wanting that six pack, sculpted muscles and saying buh-bye to cellulite? I show up every single day, workout, eat as clean as I want, set goals and crush them....and I STILL have cellulite.

I am:

• Happy

• Confident

• Excited about life

• Passionate

• Forgiving

• Patient

• Open minded

Your Self Love Junkie 101 lesson for today? Stop looking for joy. Create it. Then, work really hard to cultivate it, share and LOVE it!

xo christine

Right now, Thursday April 16th as we collectively go through a Global Pandemic, yes, our moments of JOY might seem few and far between. This conversation may be less about the goals you set for yourself or the job you decide to take on. But surrounding ourselves with positive, uplifting people is important now more than ever. People's words have the ability to bring out the worst in us. They have the ability to trigger and sometimes, we are not even sure why or how we are triggered. Don't let others steal your joy.

Do you enjoy being home right now?

Are you enjoying the fact that your family has more time together?

Are you feeling more creative?

Are you happy to cook at home and maybe go out every 2 weeks for groceries?

Grateful that your loved ones are healthy and safe?

Those are Silver Linings (yes capitalized to show importance) and YOUR joyful moments.