Change How You Think About Change

Instead of shaming ourselves for not meeting certain goals in the past, let's celebrate exactly who we are and what we look like in this moment. Then let's use that loving energy to create a positive vision for the days, months and years ahead -- one that's full of hope, creativity and peace of mind every step of the way. Loving ourselves can be the best way to encourage happy, healthy and life-affirming changes that we want to take place in our lives.

Transcript

My name is Greg McBride and at one time in my life I weighed over 450 pounds.

I had a 60 inch waist which was as wide as I am tall.

Now of course I didn't instantly become 450 pounds.

I started gaining weight when I was in the first grade.

Thinking they knew better,

My parents put me on a diet even though looking back I was probably too young to take on such an effort.

I learned on and off and began dieting more and more which led to more and more weight gain.

And part of the reason that happened is because when I wanted the change I was thinking in terms of shame and hatred and regret all having to do with myself.

And so eventually as I graduated from college I was tipping the scales at well over 450 pounds.

It wasn't until I changed how I thought about change that I actually made some progress and lost the excess weight through diet and exercise.

No pills,

No surgeries,

No fads.

It was really a shift in thinking.

And that's because I let go of the shame,

I let go of the blame,

I let go of the regret,

And I let go of the self-hatred.

Instead I started focusing on what I would gain from losing weight.

In fact I started a big scrapbook in which I would keep all sorts of images of motivating clothes,

Social occasions,

Vacations,

And life scenarios.

That I knew that I would have a happier time doing if I lost the weight.

I also collected weight loss articles,

Motivational speeches,

Anything that I could put in this scrapbook to help motivate me and keep my focus on the positives of change rather than the negatives.

Today we can start our own scrapbook or even a Pinterest page or however digitally you'd like to have it so that you can carry it around with you.

But it all starts in the mind and that's what today's meditation is going to be about.

I'm so honored that you're here and I invite you now to take a comfortable seat.

You can also lay down or if you'd like you can stand.

But be comfortable and if you are sitting or standing try and think of having an erect spine.

This is going to help us to breathe a little easier and in the end mindfulness is all about the breath.

Now if you'd like please close your eyes or maybe take a soft gaze.

Again be comfortable.

Roll your shoulders back and turn your thoughts to your breath as we breathe in and out.

In and out.

In and out.

And now if you're sitting or even standing just wiggle around for a moment.

Feel that base,

Feel your connection whether it's to a chair,

The floor,

A surface outside.

Whatever it is feel the solidity.

You are safe,

You are strong and you are here.

You are not a mistake.

You are beautiful exactly as you are in this moment.

You are meant to be exactly as you are in this moment.

That doesn't mean that there can't be some positive changes ahead.

Maybe health related,

Maybe career related,

Maybe romance related.

But wherever you are now,

If you'd like to lose some weight,

If you need a job or a new job,

If you'd love some romance in your life or maybe a new friendship.

You haven't done anything wrong to be at the starting place.

And the starting place is actually a beautiful place to be.

You've learned a lot through the years.

You've learned a lot through situations that you might handle differently now.

But there's no need for shame.

There's no need for blame.

As you breathe in and as you breathe out,

Try and let any of that that pops up go.

There might even be some distracting thoughts.

We can think of those as clouds in the sky.

Just let them pass without getting into it,

Without connecting into whatever feeling they might inspire.

If a thought is particularly pervasive,

You can even say to yourself,

Not now,

And then immediately come back to your breath.

In and out.

In and out.

Again,

You are perfect.

Where you're at in life is perfect.

It is the perfect place to spring forward,

To move into a new era that you determine is going to be amazing.

You can accomplish your goals.

They may not turn out exactly as you envision,

But sometimes that's for the better.

Sometimes amazing things happen,

The less we plan.

But one thing is sure to help things come about,

And that is loving yourself for who you are,

How you look,

And where you are in life right now.

That's not easy to do for some of us,

I understand.

But we're going to work on that by always returning to our breath.

In and out.

And reminding ourselves as we connect with that breath that we are perfect.

There have been no missed opportunities in the past.

Only lessons that we're going to embrace as we move forward.

I myself started probably a million diets between first grade and after I graduated from college.

And if I hadn't started the last one,

Again from a place of self-love,

And from positive thoughts about myself,

I wouldn't be at the healthy weight I am today.

But I don't think of myself during the heavy years as bad or wrong,

Or that I somehow missed out on life.

That was me at that time.

Just like the parts of you that are in the past are you.

And we know through our meditation practice that spending too much time in the past,

Or too much time in the future isn't very helpful.

It's about this moment and breathing hope and peace of mind and inspiration and love and admiration into our present thoughts of ourselves.

If you'd like,

Move your hands to your heart space.

You can touch the center of your chest.

You might become aware of the breath as it moves in and out of your lungs or your stomach.

Keep breathing,

Keep connected to that breath.

But also visualize a light that's shining from your heart space.

It's a beautiful light.

Can you picture the color?

Is it sparkly?

Is it super bright?

Is it growing?

Just picture the light if you can't imagine a warmth coming from it.

This is your power source.

And this is what we will use to initiate wonderful change in the days and the months and the year and even the years ahead.

Listen to your heart,

Your beautiful,

Beautiful heart.

Your beautiful body,

No matter how it looks right now.

Your beautiful mind.

Your beautiful self.

Just breathe in and out.

In loving yourself,

There is great power.

If you haven't already,

You can remove your hands from your chest area from that beautiful light inside your beautiful heart.

And just rest your hands on your thighs or if you're standing up on your side or if you're laying down,

Stay as you are.

And let's just connect back into the breath as we close out this session.

Breathing in,

Breathing out.

Reminding ourselves that the real power for change is in changing how we think about ourselves.

But the choices we make in the days,

Weeks and months ahead come from a place of love,

Of caring,

Of nurturing.

Let that inform the decisions you make,

Whether it's about eating,

Sending out a resume,

Signing on to a dating site,

Adopting a new pet.

Whatever it is,

Let those decisions come from love of yourself and knowing that you are right on time.

This is the time.

This is the moment.

And the mindset that we're nurturing with this meditation that you can come back to at any time can fuel you.

You matter.

You are beautiful.

You are perfect in this moment,

And that's going to allow you to achieve all sorts of goals.

As we take another breath in and let another breath out,

Slowly let your eyes flutter open.

Take in the room around you.

And remember that you can connect to your breath anytime.

You can listen to this meditation anytime.

I have other meditations right here that also talk about loving yourself.

I invite you to check those out.

And I also wish you health,

Love and happiness and a big round of applause for all of the beautiful things ahead for you.

Namaste.

Reviews

Thank you for that beautiful meditation. Your story is incredibly inspiring. Sending gratitude.

Thank you so much♡♡♡

Gregg, so a lovely reset and reframe. I feel refreshed! Thank you.❤️🙏🏾❤️