This week I pulled out a research paper I did in college about personal wellness, just to review some principles. I decided that this week I'd start diving into what personal wellness is and how to attain it. It's my personal belief that knowledge is power. The more knowledge we have, the more power we have to control our situation. Obviously there are things we cannot control: the weather, genetics, other's actions and reactions, etc. But there is so much about our lives that we can control. Over the next several posts, I'm going to discuss those parts of our lives that affect our personal wellness and how we can take control of those aspects of life.
Personal wellness can be defined as a state of healthy living. There are six factors that make up our personal wellness: physical activity, emotional stability, intellectual learning, spiritual understanding, social networks, and environmental influences. Five of the six of these factors we can control, almost completely. We don't have much control over the environment, although we can help to improve that factor for our children and grandchildren. The other factors are in our hands. we can take control of those factors to improve our personal wellness and in turn, our personal happiness.
My tip this week is to start with what you know. There are a few things in this life that we know. We know that smoking is bad for you. We know that exercise is good for you. We know you need food and water to survive. We know you need sleep to function. You know for yourself what makes you happy and what makes you sad. You know your shortcomings and you know your strengths. You know your triggers and you know your releases. These things that we know are "home base" for any journey to wellness.
This week, make a list of things you know. Things you know about yourself. Write down your strengths, your weaknesses, your ups and your downs. Write down things you love and things you hate. Write down things you know about your health, genetic factors and pre-existing conditions. (TIP: if your list of weaknesses, downs, and things you hate is significantly longer than your strengths and loves, look a little deeper. You are stronger than you think.) Use this list as "home base". Next week we will talk about setting realistic goals to achieve optimal wellness.
And always remember: You are here for a reason. You have a purpose in this life. You are of great worth.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Perfect for the Job
I've spend the past two weeks thinking about how to reach out to women and help them feel of their worth in this world and their place in this life. Women are so incredible, yet so often feel weighed down with their own imperfections. We, as women, seem to feel this insane need to be perfect according to some set of imaginary standards. And since these standards are imaginary, they also seem to change regularly and without due cause. How on earth are women supposed to feel of any value when they are constantly comparing themselves to a fictitious ideal?
So this week, I'd like to focus on perfection from a realistic view. I have a firm belief that we are where as are for a reason. We have a purpose to fulfill. We have a job to get done. We have a work to do. Your current purpose may not be the same as another's, even someone who lives in a very similar situation. I currently live as a stay-at-home-mom to a beautiful one-year-old girl while my husband works to provide for our financial needs. I know there are many, MANY women in this world living in a similar situation. So does that mean we are here for the same reason? Most certainly not.
I was having this discussion with a few women from my church and one gal made a very profound statement. (At least to me it was profound.) She said that although she is not the perfect woman, she is perfect for her situation. She is not the perfect wife, but she is the perfect wife for her husband. She is not the perfect mother, but she is the perfect mother for her children. No other woman could give what she can give to her family. She is the perfect woman to fill that position. So, although she doesn't live up to that imaginary standard, she is perfect for her purpose.
This thought is fantastic because it teaches women to see their potential. The idea that you are the perfect one for the job means that you have the potential to be perfect according to that standard. Suddenly you have a tangible standard that is unchanging. Being perfect in a certain responsibility is so much more doable that simply being perfect. Being perfect is so ambiguous. Being the perfect person for a specific situation is specific.
This week, look at your life and find those situations that you have been chosen for. Where you picked from dozens (or hundreds!) or applicants for your job? You are the perfect person for that job! Where you put into a study group with a number of individuals that all have different personalities making progress seem impossible? You are perfect for that study group! Are you the spouse of a husband who is often busy trying to juggle his responsibilities at work and at home? You are the perfect wife for him! Are you the mother to a couple of crazy kids, hell bend on terrorizing the house? You are the perfect mother for them!
Whatever your situation is, come to the realization that your are the perfect person for that job. You have a purpose. You are where you are for a very important reason. Come to believe that. Tell yourself each morning. Say it again at lunch time. Remind yourself before you go to bed. You are the perfect one for your situation. You have great worth. Repeat it until you believe it. You have worth!
So this week, I'd like to focus on perfection from a realistic view. I have a firm belief that we are where as are for a reason. We have a purpose to fulfill. We have a job to get done. We have a work to do. Your current purpose may not be the same as another's, even someone who lives in a very similar situation. I currently live as a stay-at-home-mom to a beautiful one-year-old girl while my husband works to provide for our financial needs. I know there are many, MANY women in this world living in a similar situation. So does that mean we are here for the same reason? Most certainly not.
I was having this discussion with a few women from my church and one gal made a very profound statement. (At least to me it was profound.) She said that although she is not the perfect woman, she is perfect for her situation. She is not the perfect wife, but she is the perfect wife for her husband. She is not the perfect mother, but she is the perfect mother for her children. No other woman could give what she can give to her family. She is the perfect woman to fill that position. So, although she doesn't live up to that imaginary standard, she is perfect for her purpose.
This thought is fantastic because it teaches women to see their potential. The idea that you are the perfect one for the job means that you have the potential to be perfect according to that standard. Suddenly you have a tangible standard that is unchanging. Being perfect in a certain responsibility is so much more doable that simply being perfect. Being perfect is so ambiguous. Being the perfect person for a specific situation is specific.
This week, look at your life and find those situations that you have been chosen for. Where you picked from dozens (or hundreds!) or applicants for your job? You are the perfect person for that job! Where you put into a study group with a number of individuals that all have different personalities making progress seem impossible? You are perfect for that study group! Are you the spouse of a husband who is often busy trying to juggle his responsibilities at work and at home? You are the perfect wife for him! Are you the mother to a couple of crazy kids, hell bend on terrorizing the house? You are the perfect mother for them!
Whatever your situation is, come to the realization that your are the perfect person for that job. You have a purpose. You are where you are for a very important reason. Come to believe that. Tell yourself each morning. Say it again at lunch time. Remind yourself before you go to bed. You are the perfect one for your situation. You have great worth. Repeat it until you believe it. You have worth!
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Worth of a Soul
Now, I know some of you will not share my religious beliefs and that is perfectly fine. I will from time to time include some truths that have been taught to me through the LDS church. These truths are the foundation of my understanding of worth. Even if you do not share all my religious beliefs, I hope you can take something away from these truths.
The first principle I like to share with women when we begin any sort of personal training or nutritional counseling is this: the number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth. Let me repeat that: the number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth! It does not matter if you are short and stout or tall and thin, your worth is equal to anyone else's! You are important, just the way you are!
According to dictionary.com (yea, we're really technical on here) the definition of worth is "excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem" or "usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose". Worth is not something that can be added to or taken from. It is immeasurable. There are no units to calculate an amount of worth! Worth is something you have. It cannot be taken away. Your worth is your importance in this world, your purpose here on Earth!
The first step to understanding your worth is to accepting you have worth. Every individual ever born has worth. Each of us was sent here for a purpose. Each of us has a job to be done. Regardless of your religious beliefs, believe in this truth. You are of worth. You have a purpose. You are important in this life. Never let someone tell you otherwise.
Today, put this saying somewhere you will see it often. The number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth. The worth of YOUR soul if great! This week, remind yourself of this principle often. If you have a moment of doubt, remember that you are a wonderful worth! You have a purpose in this life. You have immeasurable worth. Whisper it quietly or shout it out loud. Tell yourself often until you believe it. You are of worth.
The first principle I like to share with women when we begin any sort of personal training or nutritional counseling is this: the number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth. Let me repeat that: the number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth! It does not matter if you are short and stout or tall and thin, your worth is equal to anyone else's! You are important, just the way you are!
According to dictionary.com (yea, we're really technical on here) the definition of worth is "excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem" or "usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose". Worth is not something that can be added to or taken from. It is immeasurable. There are no units to calculate an amount of worth! Worth is something you have. It cannot be taken away. Your worth is your importance in this world, your purpose here on Earth!
The first step to understanding your worth is to accepting you have worth. Every individual ever born has worth. Each of us was sent here for a purpose. Each of us has a job to be done. Regardless of your religious beliefs, believe in this truth. You are of worth. You have a purpose. You are important in this life. Never let someone tell you otherwise.
Today, put this saying somewhere you will see it often. The number on the scale is a measure of your weight, not your worth. The worth of YOUR soul if great! This week, remind yourself of this principle often. If you have a moment of doubt, remember that you are a wonderful worth! You have a purpose in this life. You have immeasurable worth. Whisper it quietly or shout it out loud. Tell yourself often until you believe it. You are of worth.
Welcome Wonderful Women!
Since this is a new blog with new readers, I suppose an introduction is due. My name is Abbey Rowley. I live in the Boise area in Idaho with my fantastic husband and sweet baby girl. I graduated from BYU-Idaho in 2010 with a bachelors degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Health Science. During my last semester of college, I found in me a passion for women's health. I had always enjoyed health and fitness, but I discovered my specialty in those final days of schooling. I'm all aglow just thinking about all the topics I'm going to share!
This blog will be a place for women to come and receive motivation, inspiration, and support as they begin (or continue) their journey to understanding their worth. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the programs for our youth is the Young Women's organization. In this program, we try to instill in girls important values that will help them discover their purpose in this life and the worth of their souls. I love this program and will be borrowing their values to use on this blog. Each week, I will post something relating to one of the following values: faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue. My plan is to use these values, combined with my knowledge of health, to teach women about their wonderful worth.
So welcome, you wonderful women (and any wonderful men that may be joining us)! This is a place of love and support just for you! Let's begin a journey to finding a better you.
This blog will be a place for women to come and receive motivation, inspiration, and support as they begin (or continue) their journey to understanding their worth. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the programs for our youth is the Young Women's organization. In this program, we try to instill in girls important values that will help them discover their purpose in this life and the worth of their souls. I love this program and will be borrowing their values to use on this blog. Each week, I will post something relating to one of the following values: faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue. My plan is to use these values, combined with my knowledge of health, to teach women about their wonderful worth.
So welcome, you wonderful women (and any wonderful men that may be joining us)! This is a place of love and support just for you! Let's begin a journey to finding a better you.
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