We live in a culture that reveres perfection. The airbrushed, heavily filtered photos on Instagram or the sunny photos of tropical vacations shared on Facebook are just a few symbols of our attachment to perfection. While I agreed it is fun to dream about living my best life some place warm and sunny, one place this focus on perfection can become harmful is around our health goals. Most of us are familiar with the “Ah, f@$K it” feeling that comes over us after we have eaten something we wish we wouldn’t have or too much of something that tasted so good or skipped a workout because we did not feel like going to class. This idea that just because we made one choice we wish wouldn’t have means the whole day is ruined for making healthier choices. It is important to remember that each time you put something in your mouth or move your body, it is an opportunity to explore a healthy choice. Remember progress vs perfection is what is important. Try to make one small step each day to move you in the direction of your goals. Ask yourself, “What feels doable today?”. (The answer might be, “Nothing” and that is okay too. Sometimes our bodies need a rest.) While these little steps might not seem like they are doing much, they can eventually add up to big changes in your health and wellness.
Photo from flickr.
