Have you ever considered that that who you think you are today isn’t really you, but instead is who you were 6 months ago?
Surprising as this may sound, this insight is critical when it comes to your dream of permanent weight loss.
You see, the thoughts that you were thinking and the actions that you took six months ago culminated into the creation that you are today; so actually, what you see in the mirror now is the “you” from your past.
If this doesn’t make sense to you, do this: think back to where you were in your life 6 months ago. Were you living a healthy lifestyle, thinking positive, loving thoughts about yourself and your world, eating well and getting regular exercise? Perhaps 6 months ago you decided to change your lifestyle, change how you were eating and exercising and get fit in body, mind, and spirit. Or, perhaps you were in a funk like I was, and you were at times committed to health and at other times you were living in the angst of emotional eating.
Wherever you were at, those thoughts you were thinking and believing along with the actions that you took have resulted in the you that you see today. You might not be happy about the outcome you have created, however we aren’t going to focus on that because this isn’t about self-criticism (doesn’t work!), but instead is about having the awareness that you aren’t stuck in what you see in the mirror, because it’s not actually you today, it’s your past!
To realize that who you see in that mirror today is actually your past means that you are free today to take action and create the person you see yourself being. It also means that if you aren’t happy with what you see, it’s no big deal because it’s really not you, it’s your past. This means that if you let go of the attachment to what you’re seeing today and focus on now, you can create the you you will be 6 months from now.
I hope this is making sense to you because I find it very freeing. It’s super easy to look in the mirror and be unhappy with yourself because you’re overweight and out of shape, and consequently run to the frig to eat to try and make yourself feel better! If you do that, you’ll stay stuck in the past that created what you see today. However, when you realize that all you’re seeing is what you were, you are then free to become what you really want to be. You don’t need to feel bad about what you see because that is your past, it’s only “you” today if you choose to continue acting and thinking like you did to create this.
So, if you are currently looking in the mirror and liking the looks of what you see, then keep on doing what you’re doing and you’ll achieve the same results. However, if you are seeing the result of your past “you” who was using food for emotions instead of fuel, a past you who refused to exercise, or a past you who wasn’t loving her or himself, then this is a very empowering moment for you.
Now, since who you see is your past you, you want to become your “future you” now, correct? Well, who is that “you”? Think about this NOW, visualize it. Visualize the you that you want to become. Are you happy and loving life? Are you full of energy, strong in body, mind, and soul, loving your body and the unique self that you are? Are you treating yourself like you would your own best friend? Do you see yourself enjoying the season, being active, walking, running, riding a bike, swimming, spending time with family and friends? Do you see yourself traveling with ease, riding a roller coaster without a problem, or wearing a new wardrobe?
The you that you will be 6 months from now is the “you” you are creating at this very moment. The thoughts that you are thinking will lead to the actions you take and the actions you take will influence the thoughts you think and the emotions you feel; it’s all connected. What’s important to remember is that every thought and every action will compound and accumulate to create the “you” you will see in the mirror in 6 months. You have the power to decide who that person will be.
I find this thought very exciting and while it might not appear so at first, it’s a great way to stay in the present moment. Thinking like this reminds me that what I do now does matter because I am creating my future self with every thought and every action that I take today. If I decide to indulge in negativity or skip my exercise routine, I am living in the past when I created my current self who is overweight. However, when I think the thoughts and take the actions that my future self would take in order to maintain my future level of weight loss and fitness, then I am already living the life of my future, healthy, self.
Make sense? Try it out for yourself. First you need to decide who you want to be 6 months from now. Visualize that person, focusing on how you expect that healthy person would feel and act. The emotional component is highly important; you must feel how you expect to feel when you are slimmer and stronger. Believe that you can become this person, and when you take the actions to create that person, you will see your future self come into being.
Once you figure out who you are creating, then start living that healthy lifestyle today and 6 months from now you will look back at this moment and thank yourself for stepping up and creating the you that you have become. My only question for you is this: who will you be 6 months from now?
Such a great post. We all need a little reminder to let go of the past every once and a while.
Thanks for such insightful writing!
Hi Kyle, thank you!
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about this everyday, it’s really helping me a lot so I thought I’d share it with everyone. Thanks again, I really appreciate your feedback. 🙂