Why not just accept our bodies exactly the way they are? Why not stop fighting a tendency to put on weight and be happy with our heftier selves? Doesn't that sound like a more sane and civilized take on things?
Well, in a word, I say no.
Acceptance is great, there is no doubt about that. I strongly believe that we should strive to accept others exactly as they are, and I would never choose my friends based on their weight! (Crazy thought!) But as we have all learned from the Serenity Prayer, we need the wisdom to know the difference between those things that we cannot change (e.g. the weather, our age, our friend's hair color without her permission) and those things which we CAN change (e.g. our habits, our diet, our exercise regime, our lifestyle, our attitudes toward all of those things and more!) We certainly do not have control over vast areas of our lives. But we DO have control, to a great extent, over our bodies. And by exerting this control, rather than letting our appetites run rampant, we learn discipline, limits, and eventually we earn the exhilarating feeling of success.
Whether you are trying to control the number on the scale, or the number on the end of the barbell you are lifting, or the number of miles you are attempting to run, or the number of breaths you are taking while holding your downward-facing dog, you are pushing yourself to greater heights of success. Of course I am not talking about extreme situations like anorexia. I am not talking about anyone attempting to annihilate themselves. I am talking about average people striving to accomplish their own personal goals by taking steps in a healthy direction.
If you are carrying around excess fat, it is a strain on your joints, your heart, your lungs, your low back, your bank account, your health, your happiness. I don't advise acceptance.
And if you are not overweight, but just not quite as fit as you'd like to be, I will never suggest that you accept that state and simply let go of all striving, plop yourself on the couch, and give up. Should you beat yourself up? Call yourself ugly names? Throw rotten tomatoes at yourself in the mirror? No, probably best to skip those activities and just put on your running shoes. Go for a jog or a brisk walk and plan your next healthy meal while you exercise. And when you're done with your jog and your lunch, take a seat on your meditation cushion and practice accepting things exactly as they are.
Well, in a word, I say no.
Acceptance is great, there is no doubt about that. I strongly believe that we should strive to accept others exactly as they are, and I would never choose my friends based on their weight! (Crazy thought!) But as we have all learned from the Serenity Prayer, we need the wisdom to know the difference between those things that we cannot change (e.g. the weather, our age, our friend's hair color without her permission) and those things which we CAN change (e.g. our habits, our diet, our exercise regime, our lifestyle, our attitudes toward all of those things and more!) We certainly do not have control over vast areas of our lives. But we DO have control, to a great extent, over our bodies. And by exerting this control, rather than letting our appetites run rampant, we learn discipline, limits, and eventually we earn the exhilarating feeling of success.
Whether you are trying to control the number on the scale, or the number on the end of the barbell you are lifting, or the number of miles you are attempting to run, or the number of breaths you are taking while holding your downward-facing dog, you are pushing yourself to greater heights of success. Of course I am not talking about extreme situations like anorexia. I am not talking about anyone attempting to annihilate themselves. I am talking about average people striving to accomplish their own personal goals by taking steps in a healthy direction.
If you are carrying around excess fat, it is a strain on your joints, your heart, your lungs, your low back, your bank account, your health, your happiness. I don't advise acceptance.
And if you are not overweight, but just not quite as fit as you'd like to be, I will never suggest that you accept that state and simply let go of all striving, plop yourself on the couch, and give up. Should you beat yourself up? Call yourself ugly names? Throw rotten tomatoes at yourself in the mirror? No, probably best to skip those activities and just put on your running shoes. Go for a jog or a brisk walk and plan your next healthy meal while you exercise. And when you're done with your jog and your lunch, take a seat on your meditation cushion and practice accepting things exactly as they are.
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