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What are you characterized by?
Last week at MOPS we had a husband and wife team speak on the topic of disciplining children.
It was a super helpful and timely talk given the fact that my daughter is asserting her will and testing the limits more and more each day. But as they were wrapping up their talk they said one thing that stood out to me more than anything else.
“Remember, you’re not going to be perfect. What matters most is that you are characterized by these habits and actions; not that you’re perfect. “
This spoke to me on a parenting level, but also made me think of the message I hope to convey here on The Balanced Life and the way I strive to live my life off-line when it comes to health & fitness.
I believe that most people would look at my life and see that I exercise, I eat well and I care about my health and my family’s health on a daily basis. For the most part, my actions align with those values.
But anyone who knows me also knows that I love a good glass of wine, cheese & crackers, chocolate, and chips & salsa. They also know that I skip workouts and make poor choices from time to time.
I’m not perfect, but when I look at my lifestyle, my choices and my habits, I believe I would be characterized as someone who is healthy, fit and active.
So I encourage you to consider this idea of being characterized by a certain way of life rather than being obsessive or perfect in order to fit an ideal.
Really, this is another way of seeking balance isn’t it?
It’s freeing to think that you don’t have to be eat kale chips all day, every day and have a perfect exercise plan in place to be someone who authentically lives a healthy, active life.
So today I encourage you to consider this question: “what are you characterized by?”
It’s who you are most of the time that matters most.
xo,
Robin Long
Robin Long, founder and CEO of Lindywell, certified Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, and author of 'Well to the Core,' blends 15 years of expertise with a lifelong commitment to holistic health.
Learn more about Robin Long
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2 thoughts on “What are you characterized by?”
It is so funny the timing of this post for me. I am reading Savor by Shauna Neiquist and today was about listing out the things you do, in a way to see on paper who we are. This followed by a fantastic late dinner with good friends, lending itself to a skipped workout, with no guilt. Conversation with people who know me well and some rest served my soul better than forced participation. Thanks Robin for helping with this mindset!
This is a great way to approach the idea of perfectionism. I also think people who are so hyperforcused on something, say eating healthy but it can be applied to anything, go too far. They will sacrifice fun and time with friends in order to not eat badly. And then if they do slip up they beat themselves up. I just don’t think it’s healthy to live that way and I really value your approach to living a balanced life.