You Are Perfect Just the Way You Are
By: Louisa Latela, MSW, LCSW
On a recent Sunday afternoon I went to the christenings of my 2 nephews. It was a really fun and joyous occasion. Lots of excitement and young energy at the after party… so many conversations about hopes and dreams for the future.. so much to look forward to…
The next morning I was at the funeral of my husband’s 91 year old uncle. He had lived a good life and was very healthy and active up until the last couple of weeks before he died. Quite naturally his wife was grief stricken…. She’d lost her partner of 70 years….
The contrast of these two experiences stayed with me…. It really drove home for me the idea that the clock keeps on ticking, and the only thing we really have control over is how we experience each moment of our lives. That we will die is certain. When that happens is not. So I started to think that if my number was up today, would I be ready to go or would I have regrets? I was speaking with a client about this concept a while back and she started to recognize that she’d spent so much of her life wishing she were thinner, smarter, prettier that she really missed a lot of her life. She had allowed fear which was fueled by her ego to hold her back from really living. She came to understand the value of self love, compassion, and acceptance. Suddenly the number on the scale was not all that important in terms of determining her self worth. As she made a concerted effort to be present in her life and accept who and where she was in each moment, things started to change for her in a very positive way.
So how can you start to make positive changes in your life? Just know this: You are perfect exactly the way you are right now! Allow yourself to feel what it would be like to unconditionally accept who you are in every moment: trusting that each moment is exactly as it is meant to be; that each moment is divinely orchestrated to support you in living your authentic truth. When you let go of trying to be something or somewhere other than who and where you are you are then able to embrace life and live each day more fully.
It is in learning to stay in the moment that allows you to be present to and embrace the potential miracle it holds for you. In doing this you can live in a way that honors your highest good. This means that you treat yourself with sacred respect.
I know this all might sound a bit “over the top” but I absolutely believe it to be true. I find that as my clients begin to embrace the concept of unconditional positive self regard they start to soften and learn to “exhale”. They begin to think and say kinder things to and about themselves, and not so coincidentally they are less judgmental and much more accepting of others. They report to feel more joy and beauty in their lives.
A by product of self acceptance is freedom from the restraints of the ego which allows you to be true to yourself, connect with your passion and live a purposeful awakened life. It quite naturally follows that if you are living your authentic truth you will eat and move your body in a way that is healthy and respectful.
If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you. You can respond below, email me at louisa@louisalatela.com or call me at 856.429.9799. www.louisalatela.com
