Honestly in 2021......

“I went to an antique shop today to look for a desk and had to get out of there quickly,” I expressed to my sister-in-law a few months ago. When she asked why, I told her I felt completely overwhelmed and stressed.

“Really?” she replied wide-eyed. “That is my happy place. Whenever I’m down, I’ll go window shop at a store exactly like that. It brings me such joy.”

I walked away from this casual conversation with so many thoughts. One person’s anxiety is another person’s relief. This blew my mind as it shows how different we are all wired.

Is there inherently anything good or bad about an antique store? Of course not. Was one of us doing right while the other was doing wrong? Not at all.

So goes it with our health. We are all made differently, both inside and out. Our personalities vary just as much as our body composition.

My sister-in-law not only likes to browse in home stores but she also enjoys shopping online. She tests pieces out in her home and is constantly moving furniture and redecorating. I can honestly say there is not a single ounce of me that finds any of this attractive. When I have time to go to my happy place I have other hobbies such as reading and running. These are two activities I know for a fact, she is not into. Does that make one of us better, more productive or more successful than the other? Obviously, the answer is no.

That day I learned I need to start being honest with myself. Yes, I love for my house to look nice but home decorating is not my thing. I shouldn’t feel guilt or shame about that.

When it comes to health, let’s be honest with ourselves. For example, do you constantly hear how great yoga is but have tried before and know that you are not interested? Is there a list of super foods taped to your pantry door that you cannot stand to eat? Are you paying a membership to a high-intensity gym that you are not using?

Today, on the first day of a new year, let’s get real and create an HONESTY LIST. If you want to improve your health in 2021, write down your thoughts with regards to nutrition, hydration, exercise and sleep.

What are you really going to do this year? What ship has sailed?

What are you willing to try? What can you say goodbye to?

What’s really going to bring you joy and brighten your days? What makes you feel dread the moment you think about it?

We are all so different. What energizes one person may make another curl up a couch in the fetal position. What brings a feeling of calm to one can bring stress to another. There is no one right way to get healthy. The answer lies in knowing yourself. By writing out what you want to do this year, you identify who you are. From that, you can take it from there and do things like, find like-minded people to work out with or websites with recipes of ingredients that appeal to you. You may find yourself signing up for a healthy and convenient meal delivery service or starting a book club that pertains to wellness topics.

Success stems from authenticity. We are unique individuals motivated by different internal and external factors. Our common goal is to improve overall health but there are tons of paths to get there.

Will you join me in taking the time today or sometime over the next week to interview yourself? Formulate questions based around the four health topics I mentioned earlier. Don’t worry about what your friends or society says is popular. Answer these questions like you are the only person in the world.

I hope laying this foundation is your first task of 2021. Let me know in the comments what you will be honest about. Happy New Year!