Here at Amodrn, we’re all about striving to become the best possible version of yourself. After all, who doesn’t want to live up to their full potential? Whether it’s in health, fitness, relationships or finance, we love helping you guys set and achieve goals. But in trying to improve yourself, it’s important not to lose sight of what you already have. Us ladies tend to set the bar really high for ourselves. But when we do reach our goals, the bench mark continues to move higher and higher! Oh, you hit your healthy target weight? Time to get ripped abs and a big booty like an Instagram model! You scored your dream job? Great, now you need to get promoted! It can become a bit of a vicious cycle where no matter what, we’re never satisfied.
Now, we would never tell you to stop setting goals for yourself. But think about some of the happiest people you know. Do they have the perfect body, perfect relationship, perfect job, perfect home? Probably not, because those things don’t exist! But what all happy people do have in common is their mindset. They don’t tie their happiness to their circumstances or possessions, but they make the most of every situation. It is possible to be happy with what you have while working towards what you want. Here’s how:
Quit comparing
Ever heard a yoga teacher say “stay on your own mat”? They’re not telling you to physically stay off your neighbour’s yoga mat (although, you probably should!) They’re encouraging you to stay focused on what you’re doing, rather than worrying whether or not the person next to you has mastered a headstand or not. The same can be applied to everyday life. It can be hard not to measure your own life and accomplishments against those of the people around you. It’s okay to admire what other people have goin’ on, but comparison really is the thief of joy. Just remember: Flowers are beautiful but so are Christmas lights, and they look nothing alike!
Gain some perspective
If you’re reading this, it’s safe to say you own a phone, tablet or computer. This probably means that you have a roof over your head, food on your table and clothes on your back. This alone means that you’re better off than 75% of the world’s population. Yes, it sounds like something a nagging mum would say. But it can be easy to get so caught up in what you don’t have that you lose sight of how lucky you are.
This is especially the case around this time of year, where everyone’s posting photos of their amazing holidays and perfect Christmas feasts on Instagram. But just keep in mind that social media is just a curated highlights reel of someone’s life. After all, nobody posts photos of their 7 hour stopover at the airport or their bloated post-Christmas lunch tummy! If you’re ever feeling a bit sorry for yourself because you don’t have the new iPhone or Nikes, have a quick scroll through some world news headlines. We guarantee it will put things in perspective and remind you just how awesome your life is!
Embrace imperfection
Everyone has that one thing they focus on when they look in the mirror. Yes it’s a bit of a cliche, but those so-called ‘flaws’ are part of what makes you authentically you! Part of being happy with what you have is remembering that you’re not the sum of your parts. Think about some of the world’s most beautiful women. Both of Mila Kunis’ eyes are different colours, Jessica Hart has a gap between her front teeth and Karolina Kurkova has no belly button. Do these slight imperfections make you see these gorgeous ladies as hideous? Of course not! Chances are, you either didn’t notice or you think it just makes them even cooler. Extend the same kindness to yourself. When you’re totally at peace with who you are and what you look like, everything else falls into place.
