As I’m sitting here, I’m still amazed at how much my life has changed since 2009. I was obsessed with losing weight, abusing myself with food and comparing myself to every woman I crossed paths with.
I was often seething with jealousy.
My self-esteem was non-existent and if I’m super honest, I flat out hated myself.
Compared to now… It’s like night and day.
Food is no longer something I discipline or reward myself with. It’s a source of fuel. A source of energy. It helps me be the person I want to be.
And I love my body more than ever, and it’s not because it looks “better.” It’s because I’ve found deep gratitude for all she does for me every single day. (I was even able to anchor in this appreciation after giving birth when my body was looking her very worst.)
Learning how to love myself and my body is THE most fulfilling thing I have ever done IN MY LIFE.
And I’ve had MANY fulfilling moments to compare it to. I’m madly in love with my husband, and my son Wyatt, but the love I have for MYSELF is an EVEN MORE fulfilling!
Yep. You read that right — even more fulfilling than my love for my own child.
Why? Because if I didn’t deeply love myself, I couldn’t deeply love them.
You cannot give to others that which you cannot give yourself.
I can hear you now, “So you’re telling me that I can’t love my children/partner/parents deeper than I love myself?”
That’s exactly what I’m saying.
Everything stems from your relationship with YOURSELF. Which is why Wildly Alive exists.
So today I wanted to give you 15 super fun ways to start moving into this beautiful place that I find myself in right now.
HEY! If I can do it, you absolutely can too.
Here are 15 Ways to Start Channeling Your Wildly Alive Woman (from sun-up to sun-down) so you can start finding the compassion and self-love you deserve.
1. Wake up, breathe and say thanks — No jumping up out of bed, opening up your phone, hitting the ground running. Two minutes of complete intention can transform your entire day.
2. Drink hot lemon water — In one small cup it cleanses, nourishes and restores your awesome bod. It’s been a game changer for myself and all my clients.
3. Fuel up — You know that saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” It’s for real. Food is fuel. If you don’t eat a hearty, healthy breakfast (like eggs, oatmeal, or nut butter on toast) then you’ll crash by 10 am, and you’ll reach for the sugar or caffeine (or both!).
4. Shake your booty — Wildly Alive Women love positive energy. Shut off the negative, this-world-is-going-to-hell news, crank up your favorite jams and enjoy getting ready for the day.
5. Feel fabulous, nothing less — When you take time getting ready, you feel like a million bucks walking out that door. You won’t order the double cheeseburger with fries and extra mayo at lunch. It just doesn’t happen… Because when you feel fabulous you make fabulous choices. It’s just that simple.
6. Use your daily commute in your favor — Instead of getting pissed off at the chick in the red Audi who cut you off, use this time to imagine what your ideal day will look and feel like… You’ll be amazed how much of it actually happens when you do.
7. Don’t forget to breathe — Yes, the office can be stressful, but with the right tools it doesn’t have to be as bad as you’re making it. Try the 4-7-8 breathing. Breathe in for 4; hold for 7; exhale for 8. Do that 4x’s and then tune into your body. Whoa. It’s like magic.
8. Don’t cross that line — Wildly Alive Women set boundaries and don’t let others cross them. Whether it’s your boss giving you tasks that are not yours, or your friend guilting you into things you don’t want to do. Look ’em in the eye, roll your shoulders back and confidently tell them how you feel. I know it’s not easy, but you’ll gain more respect from others if you do.
9. Respect your food — If you love food so much, then why don’t you give it the time and respect to actually enjoy it? Breathe. And put the fork down, sister. Food tastes so much better when you’re not inhaling it. Be a food L.O.V.E.R.
10. Stop complaining about the lack of time — Look, YOU create your day. All the complaining, indulging in the drama (Hello Helga) and stressing about the lack of time… IT’S TAKING UP TIME. Revisit #7, take a breath, and get focused.
11. Leave work at work — Walking through your door still pissed off about your day, and all the unrealistic deadlines… It does nothing to make the situation better. As you’re walking through your door, imagine a beam of light shedding away all of that, and leave it on the doorstep. You deserve time away from work, physically AND mentally.
12. Don’t let yourself dip — Wildly Alive Women have healthy snacks all throughout the day, to keep their blood sugar from dipping too low (which drives you to the sugar late at night). Fruits, nuts, veggies, avocado and = Lara bars. Have them with you at all times and EAT THEM.
13. Connect with yourself — The reason we women tend to lash out at our children, husbands or close friends, is because we haven’t had a moment to ourselves. Journal, take a bath, cuddle in bed with a good book, do some self-love mirror work, take a relaxing walk. 10 minutes counts.
14. Trust in something higher — Wildly Alive Women believe in something higher than themselves and are willing to put their trust in that. God, Universe, Angels, Buddha, whatever that is for you. Connect with it, trust it and relinquish the death-gripping control.
15. Seek pleasure — Yes, I’m talking that kind of pleasure. Whether it’s by yourself or with your partner, there is nothing dirty or wrong with seeking an orgasm for the pure pleasure of it. We are designed to feel pleasure and something amazing happens when a woman is deeply connected with her sexuality. She is glowing and radiant, and women want what she has.
If you read this list and are feeling everything BUT Wildly Alive, please know that these are qualities of my life that I continue to cultivate and master. This is not about perfection; that’s never Wildly Alive. It’s about awareness and simple shifts that you can incorporate into your daily life.
Pick one of the Wildly Alive tips and start taking action on RIGHT NOW. You deserve it.
Baby steps,
Nichole