Your Best Self
By: Linda Carol Baker
Why do we exercise? Why do we want to be fit? Isn't it because we want to
be the best women we can be? You and I know that we are not living at our fullest potential. The search to change can lead us in many
directions. Usually the first place of introspection is the physical appearance.
My mirror reveals swaying underarms, thunder thighs and a bagging tummy. Ok, I have a huge back side too! I can't get my wedding ring on because my
fingers look like little sausages. Let's face it there is a "fluffy" person staring back at me. But, I still want to be my best
self. Don't you? Maybe you wonder like I do, "Am I worth the effort?
It will take a lot of work and it may inconvenience others if I change the way I eat
and take the time to exercise".
I've heard the world shout at me, "Take time for yourself, you deserve it! Develop your talent! Stand up for your rights! It doesn't matter what
your family and friends think as long as you are taking care of 'Old Number One'." I think there is an element of truth in some of those words. Yet, if
I listen only to these thoughts I will be come a very self centered individual, not at all my best self.
Then I hear the religious world telling me that I must be selfless. I must always put others before myself. Does that mean I am not important too?
Does that mean that I have to put aside my time to exercise because other people's plans are more important than mine? Am I really supposed to be
everyone else's door mat? How can not taking appropriate care of me and not developing my potential help me be my best self?
What I have here are two extremes. Me first always and you first always. Isn't there some kind of balance where everyone comes out a winner?
The Bible says, in Luke 10:27, that we are to love God with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind and our neighbor as ourselves. This phrase,
"love your neighbor as your self", is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible and it is one of the keys to healthy living.
There is a way to treat people right and be good to ourselves without feeling guilty! God's philosophy of "self love" is perfectly balanced and
wonderful to experience! Others win because we treat them the way we treat ourselves. We give
them encouragement, comfort and compassion instead of condemnation. Our "Self" wins because
we are secure in Christ. We have a sense of significance and victory empowering us to
appropriately be good to ourselves and pass that loving acceptance onto others. Then "Self" can
choose the best for others without a sense of personal deprivation. This is why you and I no longer need to feel guilty about treating ourselves
lovingly. We can exercise, eat right and still love others.
"Loving your neighbor as yourself" is the Win-Win experience that empowers you to be your best self!
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