Thoughts aroused by Maleficents Essay
I read Mals essay today. Twice. Thought I recognized a lot of the points Mal made there from my own life.
1) You need to be ready for whatever you want to succeed in and do it for yourself. You know when you're ready.
I've had that feeling markedly a couple of times in my life. I knew very clearly when it was time for me to buy my own apartment. I had been suggested that many times before in different circumstances and it had felt a really good idea generally, but not for me. Then came the day I had grown ready to do it. No great philosophical discussions with myself, I just knew one day.
The same with taking care of myself. I tried for many years to do things I knew I should do to take care of my physical and mental well-being. Didn't stick to anything for long. Then one day realized no one else is going to take care of me, so I'd better get moving myself. Here I am, won't give up until the day I die.
2) What other people think of you and is that really relevant?
My occupation is mainly dependent of what other people think of what I do. From the beginning I've learned my trade through my teachers constantly criticizing what I do (and hopefully also telling me how to do it better..). From an early age I've learned to take what other people say seriously and kind of humbly and trying to mould my technique/performance/attitude/appearance/you name it accordingly. It becomes so natural that even when I was supposed to develop my own way of thinking and my own opinions when entering the professional world (to pass them on to my students in turn..), I always seem to rate somebody else's (mom, teacher, co-worker, passer-by on the street) opinions higher than my own. Crazy, isn't it?
But not all of the opinions about my doings have been really relevant though. A lot is said by vicious rivals, jealous co-workers, critics with their own agenda, "experts" who just don't know what they're talking about and most of all by innocent people who just don't think much, just say what comes to mind (they can't know how seriously their words are taken). I also tend to remember the negative and forget the positive.
Just lately I've truly realized that I have two major things to learn if I want to live and work and still keep my sanity. First: Recognize relevant critique, discard the irrelevant. Second: Take as much notice of the positive as the negative feedback.
3) Fear of the rejection being about me, not my weight.
I have that. If I get rejected I can always blame my appearance, and people being really superficial. If I looked stunning would the rejection be my own fault? Looks kinda ridiculous when I write it down, but that's how I feel. Shoot me..
4) Knowlegde about food&exercise is inspiring. Empty cheering&kicking is not.
I always want to do things right and effectively, if I know how. Like to be sure, though, I don't go round trying just anything. You encourage me by running in front of me yelling "Go, faster!" and I'm likely to punch you. You tell me how fast I'm supposed to go, I'll go that fast.
And Mal thought she was long winded...
If you haven't read the essay yet, go read it.
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/club-challenges/10697-essay-contest-fat-loss.html#post223092 and
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/club-challenges/10697-essay-contest-fat-loss.html#post223094
It certainly earned to be rewarded.
Juliette
I gotta keep going every day to get everything done in time. But it's definitely a purifying process to throw out a lot of stuff and get rid of dust and stains. And the worst part is always getting started, so with that out of the way I'm good to go.
