In 2014, as a part of my Faith-Filled Annual Planning Experience I selected this verse: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control…”
2014 was a pivotal year for me around this verse. I felt called to this passage because I had found faith again, I was studying God’s Word and working on my own personal development (taking courses and increasing my skills) but I really needed to get a handle on self-control. It was as much needing to allow it as it was needing to do it. I focused on rounding out my practice with more ideal clients, finding work I really, truly love to do, and getting a handle on my health. Self-control. In addition to having amazing clients and converting my food intake away from my food sensitivities and allergies, I also made a lifestyle change to eat Paleo and worked with a functional medicine doctor to balance my hormones. The result? I lost over 50 pounds and regained my health. God provided, led, and gave me the tools and strength to make lasting change.
Interestingly enough, I chose another verse for 2016 with a similar focus. Last month I wrote about Ringing In the New Year: New Ways to Begin (you can read more about that here) and one of my focuses for 2016… Finding Balance.
My health is still a focus. In 2012, just a few months after my second move in two years, I was so far from health it was actually terrifying. That weight loss in 2014 was the beginning. I have maintained that path and lost a total of 80 pounds. But that isn’t the most important thing. My health is so much better. That has been my focus. That has been my reward. I wanted balance in that area and I have found it… but just like a balance beam or a tight wire… it is something I am working on every single day.
[tweetthis]Just like a balance beam or a tight wire… health is something I am working on every single day.[/tweetthis]
I approach each and every work day from a better mental place now. The foods I choose to put in my body support my needs. I cheat from time to time (the holidays were tough) and each time I see the mental clarity dissolve, I have pain in my hands as I type, and I have trouble handling the challenges that each day brings. But, I clean up the diet, focus on the water balance, and work out again and all becomes right in the world. I balance the bad back out with the good.
I wish I could share an image of the vibrancy and energy I have gained as I have shed the extra weight. I cannot. Instead it is an image that displays the before and after visual. But know, the inside impact, and my health improvements, far outweigh anything visual.
Balance in this area has shown me what is possible. It’s an amazing blessing in my life and I will continue to focus there every day.
What does balance mean to you? I would love to know.