It’s been three weeks into my 30-Day Self-Love Challenge and for those who missed my first post, the challenge gives an opportunity for individuals to choose themselves first. Not to be selfish in loving only themselves, but in the end of the challenge to carry the love they have for themselves and help others.

The week two activity focused on Taking Stock of Where my Word Is. This activity consisted on working on the following areas of life:

•   Family
•   Finances
•   Health & Wellness
•   Career
• Romance\Partnership
• Living a Life I ♥

Through this activity I was able to reflect on how I commit to my promises by analyzing who I made these commitments to, what plan of action I chose to achieve the commitment, what fears I had about the life factor, what type of encouragement I needed, and what type of support systems did I have to commit to the chosen area.

As I reflected on various commitments I’ve made in the past, I realized there were some categories I still need to develop in so I could continue to be All that Jazz. Here’s one area I would like to share with you all.

Area: Health & Wellness

I promised myself to work out everyday and ended up not doing because of my laundry list of excuses pertaining to the weather, my hair, my schedule, etc. I used all these excuses because I really didn’t make working out a priority.

However, I’m ready to take back my POWER and work on my FITNESS again! 1^st step will begin by preparing to address the baggage around my body with the next activity with the Self-Love Challenge…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I loved the most about the week three challenge was the opportunity I gave myself to make wise choices in the way I treated my body through the foods I consumed. I was able to evaluate how my body responds to these foods and determine what was going on with me emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Monday’s menu was the following:

• Breakfast: Organic Oatmeal with Bananas, Honey, and Raisin
• Lunch: Smart One’s Broccoli and Chicken
• Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken with Mixed Vegetables
• Beverages consumed: Water and Apple Juice

These food choices made me feel really good about myself and gave me that boost to make it a great week! However, once the weekend came around, the choices I made in my food intake were more relaxed and involved foods that satisfied me for the moment but not something that would empower me.

What I realized was my body is my temple and I am what I eat. Would I rather have a consistent schedule for the week resembling to my Mondays menu or consuming foods that let me know the weekend is here, by indulging in foods that satisfy me for the moment, but leave me feeling empty afterwards?

I choose ELEVATION!!

Feeding your body physically and spiritually helps you embrace yourself to an unbelievable capacity. As I think about what I’m not, and also what I AM, the song “I Am Not My Hair” by India Arie speaks boldly to me by explaining, “I am no one’s expectation, but a soul that lives within.”

The only thing I should expect from me is to fall madly in love with myself so I help others develop the love within them!

Thanks for joining me on this adventure and I’ll make sure to keep you posted on the outcome of my self-love challenge in helping others throughout the year!

Love,

All that Jazz