I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I signed up to be a coach! I have honestly never been happier or more fulfilled in my entire life and it just keeps getting better! There’s not a thing I would change about my journey and experience so far and I am so OPEN and looking forward to what the future holds!!
My first Beachbody Coach Summit (our national conference) back in 2013!
So much has changed since then!!
I share more about what I’ve learned in my 4 years of coaching in this video as well as what I realized I was missing in terms of fulfillment and how I found it:
We run 5 day online coach sneak peeks every month- next one starts Monday. Let me know if you’re interested! These are NO PRESSURE groups! The last thing I would want is for someone to miss out on their DESTINY because they were afraid they would be obligated into something!! Join us for a fun peek behind the scenes!!
And whatever it is that FILLS YOUR SOUL, chase it with all your heart!!!
Sending lots of love and hugs to all of you! Thank you for always supporting me!!
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Around this time 4 years ago, I was losing motivation at my gym. My favorite instructor had moved, I was finding myself doing the same, stale thing every time I went, and I was starting to get tired of how much of my evening time it was eating up.
I reached out to a high school friend who I saw doing the Beachbody programs. We chatted about what program would be best for me and I immediately felt reinvigorated by the idea of taking control of my health by starting a new strength training program, called Chalean Extreme. I had been saying for YEARS at my old gym that I needed to do more strength training but didn't have the know-how or motivation to take myself beyond the same few moves that I was comfortable with... the kind you'd see being advertised in a Shape magazine to "get your arms tank-top ready."
She put me into a facebook group with about 7 other women. We worked out at home at whatever time we wanted using the DVD-based program but we would share in the group when we gotten our workout done and encourage the others who still had to do their workout. We even cracked jokes about the people in the program ("did Toni really have 7 kids?? Get outta here, Toni!") and made fun of ourselves doing the moves we weren't so good at ("I almost snapped a workout band during interval day!").
It made the workouts fun and light-hearted. It made eating right a team sport. And it made me feel like I was part of something BIGGER! I was in love!!
When Nicole asked me if I had ever thought about coaching myself, I was in shock. What?? I can do this TOO??? I was flattered that she had asked, excited, and ready to jump in.
I wanted to help people in the same way she helped me. I wanted to reinvigorate others the way I had been reinvigorated by my workout program. I wanted to make others feel like they were a part of a team and a family the way I had felt in our group.
There's more to this story that I will share on my OFFICIAL 4 year coach anniversary in a week and a half, but I really want to take some time today to highlight Nicole. I don't know where I'd be if she hadn't been sharing her journey, if she hadn't been brave enough to share it with me, and if she hadn't put together one of the most kick-butt groups of women that got my journey started off in an amazing way. She has been here for me in so many ways over the last 4 years but what I'm grateful for started way before that. I'm glad SHE took the plunge when she did. I'm glad SHE took a risk with this thing called Beachbody. I'm glad SHE put in the work. All of that was the only reason I found this in the first place. And my life has been changed for the better ever since.
The lower right picture is when her and I met Shaun T at our first Beachbody Summit (Beachbody's annual national conference). Of course we were PSYCHED and meeting the celebrity trainers is STILL awesome. But it's a small, small part of why this whole thing is SOOOO amazing for me. The people I've gotten to meet because of it- other coaches as well as clients as well as awesome people who have simply reached out to thank me for my positive posts- it's incredible. I APPRECIATE every single one of you!!! And it's hard to even put into words how much I've changed and grown as a person over the last 4 years. I am SO grateful for that. It's made the parts of me that I am most proud of. And of course it's given me a job that's also my life's passion! But I would do it for free. You've got my heart and soul, Beachbody.
Thank you, Nicole, for taking that leap and for helping me do the same!!! I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't! Love you!!!
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
I thought about taking some kind of crazy fitness pic for this post but I decided to go with a pic of me, on a normal day, sitting out in the sun at my favorite work place, happily crunching through some work- because this is honestly the embodiment of what I love to do and why I am so grateful that I get to do this job full-time.
It's been 2 years since my company closed and I lost my job as an engineer that I had done (and loved) for the 7 years prior. Truth be told, I was incredibly sad to say goodbye to that job. The ONLY thing that made it ok was that I had been doing online health and fitness coaching for the year and a half before my company closed and I had been able to build it up big enough that I was able to transition into doing it full-time as soon as my company closed. No stressing about finding another job. I didn't have to temporarily do something I didn't love in order to bridge any financial gaps or make ends meet. The transition was shockingly seamless. AND, I was all of a sudden thrust full-time into something that I absolutely knew was my purpose in life- a way to reach people who were struggling and show them that they weren't alone. It took me almost a full year for me to really feel like "This is my LIFE now! I get to do this all the time!" It felt surreal and I felt like I was on some kind of extended vacation!
But here we are 2 years later. I am still floored by the amount of love and support I have received throughout all of this. I am SO GRATEFUL to my coach Nicole for originally introducing me to this opportunity and being there through lots of laughs and ups and downs along the way. I have an incredibly supportive team that has taught me and helped me through anything I ever wanted to learn or do in this business. And I have an AMAZING team of coaches who took the same crazy leap of faith and jumped on board with me- I THANK YOU for trusting me and all that you do for our team and the world!!
Thank you to ALL of my friends and family and all of you one here who have been supporting me and cheering me on in this incredible journey. Whether you've become a client, a coach yourself, have sent referrals my way, or want nothing to do with Beachbody but have been here for support I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU! I feel like the luckiest person in the world to know all of you and have each and every one of you in my life!!! I get more joy out of my work than I ever thought possible and I thank you ALL for making my dreams come true!!!!
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach’s income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches’ actual incomes. The Statement of Independent Coach Earnings can be found at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/uploads/fckeditor/mdbody/File/downloads/statement_of_independent_coach_earnings.pdf
Not much sleep and I've got a packed weekend but I was up bright and early this past Saturday morning because there was no way I was missing Doug Smith speak on leadership at the inaugural L3 Leadership- Beaver meeting! One of my biggest take-aways was that *Leadership and character are CAUGHT not TAUGHT*! It is so important to me that I'm constantly surrounding myself with people who are better than me in various ways so that I can learn and grow as a person. THAT is why I'm willing to drive an hour out of my way for an early Saturday morning meeting when it would have been very easy to sleep in. I am so grateful for L3 Leadership (these breakfast meetings and our small group mastermind sessions). I love that the people I have met are willing to lead by example of their high character, support me in my growth, generously pour into me, challenge me and call me out ("feedback is the breakfast of champions!" - Doug Smith), stretch me, and give me loving encouragement the whole way. For example, Pastor Larry Bettencourt who had just met me today spent lots of time before and after the meeting answering my questions and speaking to me about how to handle certain leadership challenges that come with managing a team of people with varying levels of readiness to move up and even gave me useful, practical examples of ways in which he has dealt with that. Doug Smith gave a phenomenal amount of value in his talk today. And I got the privilege of meeting new leaders and connecting with some of the incredible people I have gotten really close with over the last 6 months who are always so caring and supportive. That is the value that can come to your life when you are WILLING to go all-in! Be fearless in pursuit of your own growth!!
I feel the same way about friendships! One of my best friends, Nikki Watson, has been a great partner in my personal and spiritual growth over the past couple years. In this video, we talk about how to cultivate intentional, expansive relationships like this in your life!
Doing a little reflecting and sitting in gratitude this Easter morning….
I am so very thankful for the successful business I’ve built, my family who has supported me, and the INCREDIBLE people I have met along the way!
At this very time 4 years ago, I was at one of the lowest points of my life. I was doing a TON of work traveling for a small medical device company I worked for and even though I had always loved traveling, I found the high-pressure demands of work travel to be a little too much to handle. It caught me off guard how quickly the stress seemed to build inside of me and how fast that broke me down.
Worst of all, I no longer felt like myself. Even though I LOVED the company I worked for and believed fully in our product and mission, a lot of red tape we had come up against and some hurdles that we had yet to surpass took away a lot of the fulfillment I had originally found in my work. The frustrations we were hitting made it feel like we weren’t really helping anybody! On top of that, I was constantly on the other side of the world from the people I cared most about and the stress of it all even seemed to be changing my personality. When I looked in the mirror, tears welled up inside of me because I no longer saw the care-free, happy-go-lucky, live-life-to-fullest girl that I remembered.
I knew I could only take so long of that feeling of disconnection so I started thinking a LOT about what I would do if I could no longer do my engineering job. I made lots of lists about when in life I felt the happiest and most fulfilled, what I was passionate about, when I had felt the most effective and the most like MYSELF! So much of it had to do with helping people, health and fitness, perhaps even starting a charity.
At work, the traveling died down and I eventually started to love and appreciate my job again and I set all those lists to the side. But later that year, a little opportunity called Beachbody came into my life. I didn’t know or understand much about the business side of it but I did know that I LOVED the challenge group that my coach, Nicole, had put me into to connect with other women who were all starting the same workout program I was. I LOVED that we encouraged and supported each other. I LOVED that I could share way more than health and fitness with them (truth be told, I was still recovering from the 1-2 years of stress and anxiety). It was exactly what I needed to help me REALLY feel aligned with not only who I used to be (that happy-go-lucky girl) but perhaps someone even BETTER! When my coach asked me if I had ever considered coaching, I was ecstatic! I hadn’t realized it was something anyone could do!!
In the 3.5 years I’ve been a coach, it has been an INCREDIBLE journey of fulfillment, connection, acceleration, and absolute JOY in my life! The coping mechanisms and faith that I had learned during the tougher points in my life all served me SO WELL when being able to connect with others that were currently struggling. My job goes way beyond health and fitness. I am ALWAYS trying to learn more and improve myself (not just my health, but as a PERSON) and teach others what has helped me! Life can throw major curve balls at us sometimes. We make mistakes. We don’t always live our highest truth or in our best integrity. But the beauty of that is that we can help each other! Nothing about coaching has ever meant that I need to be perfect. It is IN our struggles that we find the most connection and lift each other up!!
So thank you to all of YOU who have come along on this journey with me! It is just the beginning, I promise you! And I promise to lift all of YOU up on your own journeys!! If you think coaching might be part of your path, don’t hesitate to ask me about it!! It was something I built on the side while still working at my full-time job until I my company closed in 2014. Since then, I have been coaching full-time and loving every minute of it and all of the people I have gotten to meet along the way! And when I pull out all those old lists of what I said I wanted with my life, what I get to do now EXACTLY aligns with all of that!! In fact, it’s even better!!! Gratitude doesn’t even come close to expressing how thankful I am for all of this!!
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
The top picture was my final paycheck from my old company right before the company closed in May of 2014. This was my take-home pay every 2 weeks after 7 years of being an engineer there. I felt fairly compensated, I loved the job, I loved working on the development of our medical device and representing our company and product internationally, I felt privileged to work with incredibly talented surgeons from around the world, it was an honor to learn from the incredible people I was lucky enough to work with, and my time there will always hold a special place in my heart.
But I am also proud of this:
* I am proud of listening to my gut when my coach asked me back in 2012 if I ever considered becoming a coach. I didn’t have a clue what would come out of it but I jumped all-in because it was something I absolutely loved doing. There was definitely a small voice within me that told me I was entering into something significant in my life :)
* I am proud that despite having the same fears that anyone would when starting something new, I stayed connected to the bigger picture and put my heart out there as best as I could. I knew there was a chance that some might interpret what I was doing as salesy, annoying, or even a little crazy, but did that really matter if there were people out there that I was helping? I learned to ignore any doubts with the first message I received letting me know that I helped someone BELIEVE in herself <3
* I am proud of myself for following my heart and taking a plunge into a career that was a complete 180 from what my degree, previous work experience, and training was in (although to be honest, I think coaching is more aligned with what I REALLY wanted out of Bioengineering, which was to help improve the quality of people’s lives and make the world a better place). There were a lot of people who suggested I should get another job in engineering or questioned if I worried about not being able to find another job in engineering down the road if I stepped away from it. The truth? No, I didn’t worry. Job-wise, I knew my skill set was more marketable than ever. But throughout all of this, if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that if you stay ALIGNED with your truth and your joy, the BEST opportunities for you come your way. I never could have foreseen this opportunity coming and I learned a long time ago to trust that things are ALWAYS working out for the best. I have never felt more fulfilled or ALIVE in my life and I know in my heart this is what I was meant to do. Trust me, I’m not looking back! :)
* I am proud of what I have done with this “fun little opportunity”. I LOVE my team- some of the most incredible souls I have ever encountered. I am proud that I have really found my voice and my message in all of this. I have worked with a lot of people and seeing where we all struggle and what helps us all has really helped me learn a TON - and I can use that to help others! I love that we’re all in this together, trying to improve ourselves one day at a time!
And that brings me to my final point: I am proud of the financial success I have built with this too. I know some people feel weird about sharing income information but when I was originally contemplating becoming a Beachbody coach, seeing things like this totally INSPIRED me! I do this to show others what is possible AND because I pour my heart and soul into this business and I like to celebrate my accomplishments along the way! These numbers represent a lot more than just finances to me. This business is a representation of the things that are most meaningful to me: my passions, people I care deeply about, and my dreams! Despite the cultural stigmas attached, I think we should ALL celebrate our successes more often! So here is mine. Here is what I’ve built. And I’m not stopping here- this is just the beginning ;)
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach’s income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches’ actual incomes. The Statement of Independent Coach Earnings can be found at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/uploads/fckeditor/mdbody/File/downloads/statement_of_independent_coach_earnings.pdf
I view Beachbody as the most incredible platform in the world to help others transform their health but honestly, the more important mission in my eyes is to help them transform their BELIEF! I want to show others that more is possible for their lives than they ever dreamed of!! If you read my post the other day about LEGACY, you know how important that this mission is to me!!
What I realized I DON’T share as often is my vision for my OWN life! I want to feel fulfillment in my work every single day. I want to feel like I can help someone in some small way every single day. I want to show kindness to the people I encounter every single day. I feel SO GRATEFUL that I’ve been able to do this AND create a flourishing business out of this where I can help others do the same!!
I want to DOUBLE MY INCOME this year!! I don’t know how exactly that’s all going to come together, but I’ve done it before using just the simple daily activities that I know help consistently grow this business. I have a plan for EXACTLY how I’m going to invest that money. I also have a BIG vision of a donation I would like to make to a local non-profit that is very near and dear to my heart.
When I think even farther down the road, I picture amazing things for my future family because of the work I am doing now. I want my husband to feel COMPLETELY FREE of the trappings of the daily grind and instead be able to pursue the creative passions that set HIS soul on fire! I want us to be able to take long trips to incredible destinations where we can immerse ourselves in nature and spend time just CONNECTING! I want us to have the time and freedom to make every day a fun adventure- trips to the coffee shop, joking with other customers; entertaining neighbors and friends for backyard dinners full of laughter; spending time at the local music shop even if neither of us know how to play; or an impromptu road trip to a middle-of-nowhere town selected on a map by a fun game of darts. I envision a house with extra bedrooms to welcome family and out-of-town friends with open arms. I want our family life to feel happy and carefree, never worrying about the burdens of debt or being able to provide for the fun, free-spirited activities that my kids will come to me asking for! I ENVISION my future family full of laughter and joy and creativity and PRESENCE- sharing special moments outside, reading together, cooking a new recipe, or going for a long walk through the woods. I picture being able to spread a large canvas out in our backyard and taking my daughter by the hand and dancing and tossing paint into a work of art that comes ALIVE before our eyes. I picture having the time and the freedom to enjoy the simple, yet INCREDIBLE, moments of beauty in life!! I want our SOULS to feel nourished and our HEARTS to feel full!
For so much of my life, I always pictured the normal things that everyone is always taught to- a job, kids down the road, a never-ending to-do list, juggling schedules, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I make it a point to enjoy EVERYTHING in my life no matter what and I know that would have been just fine. But it’s only been in recent years that my eyes have been open to other ways- different lifestyles! I always loved my job as an engineer but now I get to do something that absolutely sets my soul on fire with ENERGY and PURPOSE every single day!! And for as many freedoms I had at my old job, it’s NOTHING compared to this!! To be honest, I still feel like I’m on one big vacation from work (it’s been almost 2 years lol)! I still have moments where I forget that this is my full-time LIFE! And that’s CRAZY to me! I can go anywhere, see anyone, any time I’d like! I can drop everything and be present with whoever needs me! And I KNOW I can not only carry this into a future family life and be present with my kids, but I also know that I can give this same gift of freedom and presence to my husband, which means the world to me. ANNDDD, on top of all that, I know that through discovering and showing what is possible in MY life, I can inspire others to pursue their OWN dreams and their OWN freedom!! And the entire time I get to feel like I’m helping others and living my life’s purpose.
Think that would feel great? It does. And guess what- ANYONE can do this. Ask me. Get started now. You can be here too!! We can do this TOGETHER! Together we can change the trajectory of our lives and the WORLD! Let me tell you, I saw others posting about this years ago and even knowing how great it sounded is nothing compared to what it feels like to be living it.
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Hello all! Ever wondered what I do as a coach (the behind-the-scenes, the day-to-day, how I get paid, etc)? I hope you know by now that I am a no-pressure kind of person so I wanted to open up a chance for you to get to see what really goes on with this business (but without feeling like you're going to get pressured into anything)! Our team has a 5 Day Coach Sneak Peek group on Facebook starting this coming Monday, Jan 25, so join us next week for a look at what we do (if you are seeing this at a later date, don’t worry- we run these every month)! If you decide that online health/fitness/motivation coaching is something you might like to do, awesome! Anyone can do it and you don't need any special type of certification. If you join us for this group and decide it's not for you, that's A-ok too!
Coaching has honestly been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done- I feel like I get to help people in some small way every day and live my passion as my full-time job (although it's something you can easily do on the side too, which is how I started)!
I wanted to make sure that nobody I know is missing out on the opportunity to do something they might really love for fear of asking about it, worrying it's going to be a pushy thing, or not really understanding what it is. So that's why we created this group!! If you're interested, please let me know- we'd love to have you!
I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :) Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Met these amazing friends/coaches for lunch. Marci asked me how much time I spend each day on my coaching business now that I do it full time. Uhh.... I honestly didn't have an answer. At first I said 6 hours a day. Then I said 12. Then I realized that about 9-10 of those hours are things I'd be doing anyway (like my workout, or sending out words of encouragement to people I care about, or meeting awesome people like Marci and Jacqlyn for lunch). Hmm. I don't know. Aside from messaging people specifically to help them figure out which workout or nutrition program would be the best fit for them (and even that I enjoy), nothing else really feels like work. I'm pretty sure I would compulsively post pictures and things that inspire me and share things that have helped me that may help others too. I always say, everyday is a Monday for me and everyday is a Saturday. So I'm sort of doing work all day. Yet none of it feels like work (and like I said, most of it I'd be doing anyway).
I watched a video today of Gary Vaynerchuk's: "Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what you want to do everyday for the rest of your life. And do that.... It is a GIFT to be able to wake up in the morning and do what you want for the rest of your life. The way you do that is by becoming an 'overnight success'... somebody who has actually put in work for the last decade and has gotten themselves into a position where they can do something rad that we all think is cool, that we all wish we could do." Well I don't know what your definition of success is, but I think what I get to do is pretty rad and I often have people that say to me, "I wish I could do what you do".... you CAN!!! It does take a lot of work. It does take mental and emotional stamina and BELIEF. And it does take time. But you absolutely CAN! And it doesn't take a decade like most businesses that are built from the ground up (and requires a heck of a lot less risk)! And let me tell you, it is WORTH IT!!! Ask us how!!
One of the biggest hesitations I hear from people who are considering coaching is that the market is already saturated, they already know several coaches, or that they’re worried they won’t have anyone who is interested. This is my response to that:
If you have that inner voice whispering that you know it would be something you’d really like to do, if you’re heart is quietly nudging you to give it a try, if you’ve been thinking about being a coach and you think it would be fun and fulfilling and a great way to keep yourself on track while helping others, DO IT. Or at least don’t let this be the reason that stops you. Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
I am so lucky to know so many people (all of you guys!!! Yes, I'm talking to YOU!) that have HUGE helping hearts and an incredible vision for our world and the future. Seriously you guys are some of the best people I have ever met- my social media is always full of such awesomeness! So kudos to you all!!! I love talking about the bigger mission for the work that I do and because I consider us all on a bigger mission in life and relating to that, I have a really important question for all of you! Thanks in advance for watching!!
Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.
Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach’s income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches’ actual incomes. The Statement of Independent Coach Earnings can be found at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/uploads/fckeditor/mdbody/File/downloads/statement_of_independent_coach_earnings.pdf
Yesterday, not even sure of what triggered it, I got a huge craving to order some food. I think the busyness of the Halloween weekend put me in the mood to just stay put yesterday and some comfort food seemed in order. I knew deep down this was not a good idea- my digestive system has been off a little lately, I’ve been eating at restaurants a lot as-is, and quite frankly, I don’t even like the term “comfort food” because I associate it with some sort of weakness to be turning to anything outside of myself for comfort. But see? That’s exactly where the problem is. The fact that somewhere deep within me, I believe it’s “bad” to not be able to make myself feel better. Do we ever even stop to recognize how much pressure we all put on ourselves these days? I’m great at delegating work, I’m great at saying no to plans, I’m great at setting boundaries with my time, and yet still, somewhere in me is this need to figure it all out… to get it all right… and to do it now. I know I’m capable of whatever I set my mind to and yet when I see something I can improve or make better, I want to make that happen immediately. I do not consider myself a perfectionist- I think I’m pretty good at discerning what tasks need to be done with excellence and when it’s better to settle for “good enough”. But when it comes to my own internal state, I passionately seek improvement. And for as much as I feel I have a good perspective when it comes to work and the limits I put on it, there is still always a pressure I put on myself to accomplish the huge amount of things that are hanging over my head (I am definitely guilty sometimes of the “once I get that done, then I’ll be happy” mentality).
Anyways, how does this relate to food? I think we are ALL plagued by the pressures and demands on our time and energy (often self-inflicted). Even if I’ve gotten better at saying no to things or letting things go that just aren’t as important, it can still be exhausting to make those decisions all day long. I never *like* saying no to plans with a friend I care about, I don’t *like* having to throw in the towel about organizing the files on my old laptop even though they just aren’t that important anymore, and I don’t *like* putting extra work on someone else even if I truly can’t handle it all. In this modern age of go-go-go or say no-no-no, there is not a whole lot of emotional energy left by the end of the day to put towards the habit change we are trying to make. We’ve all done it- how many times have we said, “I’ve got to work on my eating habits,” “I’ve got to stop spending so much money,” “I need to get back in my exercise routine,” “or my old college favorite: “I’m never drinking again.” Haha. There’s plenty of things that we do because it feels good in the moment but doesn’t feel so great after. Sometimes it’s just a matter of recognizing the benefits we DO get out of it. For example, I eat at restaurants a LOT but I appreciate the social aspect of seeing friends regularly and taking advantage of all the cool new stuff this city has to offer. Sometimes, I recognize that I need to throttle it back, and I do. Sometimes it’s a matter of taking a step back and SEEING the bigger picture- where am I feeling tapped-out? And what can I do right now to begin to make that better?
World pressure:
For as much as I talk about the demands the world puts on us, I certainly don’t think it’s helpful to go into a victim mentality of feeling like it’s us against the world. It’s also the same world that offers us a limitless amount of incredible opportunities, wonderful people and connections, and beauty all around. It’s not the world’s fault- the world is just offering up a variety of stuff saying, “here you go! take it or leave it!” It is our job to remember that we have a choice of how we process, react to, and incorporate these constant stimuli. Not all of these pressures, or even the things we consider to be urgent and important, are truly life-or-death matters. Sometimes even recognizing that helps to take the pressure off and allow us to APPRECIATE all that we GET to do each day. I’m a huge fan of having a regular gratitude practice. I put links to several youtube videos I made at the bottom of this blog- feel free to watch if you’d like to know more about my own story and how I apply gratitude to each area of my life (including work, workouts, and the tough emotional stuff in life)!
Self pressure and limiting beliefs:
I think another reason it can be so disappointing when we feel like we’ve “fallen backwards” is the MEANING we bring to it. Think about it. Would splurging on a junk food meal be so guilt-inducing if we KNEW we would never do it again? Of course not! But instead, we tell ourselves things like, “I’ll never overcome this pattern,” “Why do I always do this to myself?” “I just can’t stop.” And we use it to reinforce every limiting belief that it will ALWAYS be this way, we will always carry the extra weight, be in debt, succumb to addictions, or whatever it is that we’re dealing with. “Always” is a harsh word. Sure, I still have patterns that I fall into and I still get disappointed when I do, but I have made a HUGE amount of progress in the last couple years. My whole outlook on life has become radically more aware. I feel more alive than ever. I do have a ton of healthy habits in place. And I seek improvement (mostly) from a place of self-love as opposed to shame, guilt, or self-hate (I wrote up some strategies about the emotional side of that here http://katelynlesk.blogspot.com/2015/09/love-yourself-to-where-you-want-to-be.html). We ARE making progress. It’s just in those moments when we’ve taken a step back that the sneaky fear voice is the loudest. Shut that sucker up and move on! (more on how to do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Seg1IcDr9M).
How to deal with it all:
If I have one mission in life, it’s to help each person I work with see where their fears, stresses, pressures, doubts, and blocks are and to slowly but surely replace those with love. This is something I am CONSTANTLY working on with myself as well. It all starts with awareness and then perspective.
It’s important to remember we are exactly where we need to be. Every choice we made, we needed. We know this simply because we made them. We may know better now, but then, we needed it for a reason. Even seemingly “bad” choices are for our greater good. They are beacons to point out certain things in life. Discovering what we don’t want sends a rocket of desire to that which we DO want and motivates us to work towards it. It illuminates the path. Yes, my Thai food is illuminating the path to enlightenment :) Don’t you wish you would have gotten take-out now too? ;)
So for today I will eat my leftovers guilt-free (from Smiling Banana Leaf, by the way- if I was going to order Thai, at least I did it right) and use it as an opportunity to take a step back and see where I’m putting too much pressure on myself, where I am taking life too seriously, and where I can take back some of my power and rediscover my inner goddess :) And if I can help someone else discover their inner power along the way, then it was definitely worth the mild heartburn and stomach fullness :)
Don’t forget to remind yourself of your AWESOMENESS regardless of ANYTHING else!!!!!! I love you and I’m rooting for you!!!!
Gratitude, staying present, and first world problems
