Let Go of ALL or NOTHING

Extremistan is not a happy place to live. Read this for some good advice on finding moderation.

Many people think that in order to benefit from something, they have to go all-in. The problem with this is that, for most people, the opposite of going all-in is going, well, all-out. Going all-out is about much more than the extra calories consumed. Going all out can lead to some pretty destructive eating behaviors and habits. Behaviors and habits that can be really hard to break, like eating until you are absolutely stuffed, or eating anything in front of you simply because it’s there.

https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/mindset/all-or-nothing/

Pursuing Happiness

This post is quite the homage, and I think a good life goal would be to be the sort of person who has things like this written about them.

But also it's got great, concrete advice about HOW to work toward being that relentlessly positive person.

It starts with presence. According to studies, 46.9% of your waking hours is spent thinking about what isn’t going on in that particular moment. For instance, as you walk down the street, your mind often goes to future conversations or past events instead of focusing on the present.

 http://markfisherfitness.com/dedicated-pursuit-happiness/

Ten Good Commandments

Number one is THE reason I am the fit person I am.

1. Thou shalt feel the love

It’s impossible to sustain something you hate long term, so don’t concern yourself with what is the better calorie burner or muscle builder, but instead experiment with a variety of things. Embrace that which feeds your fitness soul and eschew others. If it is fun and enjoyable you will want to keep doing it.

http://www.bodyforwife.com/the-10-commandments-of-getting-and-staying-in-shape/

Be positive! I SAID BE POSITIVE.

OMG YES.

People’s reactions to perceived unhappiness, especially in women & young people, are interesting. Those reactions are often very intense. Strangers & acquaintances alike feel compelled to chastise me for not being grateful for my life, or to remind me that my situation could be worse, or that I’m beautiful & should therefore go through life gifting the world with my permanently bared teeth.

It’s worse online, where Instagram & Facebook often feel overrun by positivity pushers who replace fitspo with memes that demand I never feel bad or self-conscious or anything less than 100% pure gratitude for every single experience of my day. Everything is a gift, the positivity pressure tells me, so say thank you.

https://ontheuplift.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/positivity-pressure/

Up and Down

Jenny Lawson is one of my favorite writers. Book, blog, anything, everything.

This post is on living with depression. If you've ever had it, read this.

http://thebloggess.com/2016/10/10/up-and-down-and-up-again/

Hug for Your Health

Listen, the world needs more hugs.

You can give them.

And you SHOULD.

http://paleoforwomen.com/4-reasons-people-who-hug-are-healthier-and-happier/

Self-Care For The Depressed

Yes to everything written here, from one who's been there:

Self-care includes a lot of adult-ing, and activities you want to put off indefinitely. Self-care sometimes means making tough decisions which you fear others will judge. Self-care involves asking for help; it involves vulnerability; it involves being painfully honest with yourself and your loved ones about what you need.

I am reconstructing my ideas about what it means to take radically good care of myself. I am making it a priority, to the detriment of other priorities, because I have to come the realization that my life depends on it. I will tell the truth about my present self-care, even though I have zero assurances I am getting it right. Because a) getting it right is not the point (but God, do I love to get things right), and b) the other thing nobody tells you about self-care is that it’s nearly impossible to know if you’re doing it right, until months later when you either find yourself feeling better or shittier.

https://themighty.com/2016/09/self-care-how-to-take-care-of-yourself-when-you-have-depression/