I Surrender

I have mentioned many times in the past, as strange as it may sound, my spirituality is often based and comes shining through via references to the Wizard of Oz.  It is most certainly unique but it is what works for me, so I go with it.

Both Carla and Katy commented on my Exposed..Again post about my statement; Vulnerability is what SAVED me.  So, it got me thinking, YES, I know hard to imagine, me thinking…*Yes, sarcasm at its finest here*

The significant thing about Michelle at Eating Journey and her whole “exposed” movement is allowing yourself to be vulnerable.  To surrender, for just a moment or two, to accept things as they are and to be accepting and even grateful for this beautiful gift we have…our body.

Just relax and think about it for a moment.  Michelle encouraging us to be vulnerable AND grateful.  Carla encouraging us to be ourselves with no apologies.  Katy encouraging us to #fitblog.  Oh and another movement about surrender Operation Beautiful.  It is about accepting our GOOD.  To learn to accept our good, we have to surrender our defensiveness, our engrained survival techniques, our fears, and just move forward.  We have to let go of some Self Will and go with the flow.

Spirituality is often not talked about much in the weight loss, body image arena.  Yes, it is hinted at, mentioned, but not often discussed in too much detail.  Yes, religion is one of “those” subjects that we often tend to avoid.  But religion and spirituality are different yet the same.  As I slowly surrender myself each day to being vulnerable and open to new ideas and changes, I realize more and more that it is NOT just about food and exercise, or even emotions for that matter…It is about the basic three….Mind, Body, Spirit…..

I learn that more and more each and every day.  My BIGGEST accomplishment this year has been to quit fighting with my body.  A coach and  mentor to me for many years, June, (who has become one of my biggest fans) encouraged me to try a simple exercise.  SIMPLE she said…HA! She told me to find a blank wall and just sit and stare.  Oh My GOD…did I fight her on that one…I came up with every frickin excuse in the book….I laugh now, I even told her I couldn’t find a blank wall.  She patiently waited.  She let me go through my *spin* as I call it.  Then one day, months later, I was lying on the floor doing a few Yoga stretches, and I looked at the ceiling.  It became my blank wall.  I was in that position of vulnerability.  Not able to get up and run to easily.  I just surrendered to the moment.  No camera lens, no mirror, those would feed my self-berrating thoughts and excuses.  It was just a blank wall.  Instead of *seeing* myself, I had to just *feel*.

Yes, vulnerability is what is saving me…Saving me from my old self that got me here in the first place.  When I woke up this morning, I thought I would write a post about the Chilean Miners and their incredible story.  But I followed a lead that I often don’t do.  I checked my Google Reader BEFORE I started to write.  I am glad I did.  I read the most incredible post about those miners by Dr. J He has the most incredible way with words, just like Lance and Roy, but once again, I was led to what I needed to hear the most.   Just as those miners were living a limited life, so is the person with obesity.

I had to surrender my old coping mechanisms and be vulnerable to accept the changes and TRUTH of what I thought protected me actually limited me.

What behavior or excuse or old pattern can you surrender that keeps you living a limited life?  Share with me…I still have a ton to learn!