Monday, I tried to apply Dr. Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs’ teachings on Love & Respect to our lives in a video for my private Facebook group. What I really wanted to convey was how women and men differ in how they operate, what their needs are, how we compliment and lift each other up based on our need for love or respect and then how can we apply that to our own Lenten journey. I’ve decided to let the Eggrich’s talk about the message God commissioned them to share and focus on what God is calling me to share.
Self-Respect vs. Self-Love
I’ve talked about self-love a few weeks ago, but what does self-respect mean? We need both to reach and maintain our health and wellness goals, so let’s explore ways to embrace self-respect and use it during Lent.
I like to think of self-respect as more about setting boundaries. Guarding the connections we have to God, others and ourselves. Insuring love has all it needs to grow & thrive. Respect is that deep admiration we have for achievements and accomplishments. It thrives on celebration, encouragement, affirmation and in my case, routine.
Respecting Your Temple
Self-respect relates back to the the 3rd Pillar I teach, in that
“You are a Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
1 Corinthians 3:16
God gives us many gifts and calls us to be good stewards of those gifts, taking care of them. And he chose your body as his house where he can live with you. It’s a wake-up call to not only love our body, but to respect it enough to take care of it. To put some boundaries or rules in place to make sure we are taking care of it. To celebrate, encourage and admire ourselves (and others!) on our journey. And who’s your best advocate? The responsible person to make sure all this happens? You are.
Like I said in my post on self-love a few weeks ago, I’m not talking about conceit. But finding that middle ground where we say ‘no’ to things (food, people, situations, environments, actions, etc.) that don’t serve us, or push God away. Or give him (or us) an uncomfortable place to live. It’s also about saying ‘yes’ to those things (food, people, situations, environments, actions, etc.) that do serve us and welcomes God (and others) in.
Honoring my Body
One way I respect my body is to make sure I move my body every day. Lately, I’ve noticed lower energy, trouble sleeping, sugar & salt cravings as well as other things that lab tests confirmed with my hormones being off again. While I love working up a good sweat on my bike, my body is asking for more yoga, qi gong, slow walks and short bursts of physical therapy moves. So, I make sure I schedule those things in appropriate amounts so I don’t over do it. I’m trying to make sure every bite I put in my mouth is fueling my body-not my fears, doubts, overwhelm….. I’m also getting about 9 hours of sleep a night as well as connecting to God several times a day.
Can it be a challenge with everything else I’m doing? Absolutely! But I also know without my health, I can’t be who God is calling me to be. I can’t be the wife, grandma, mom, daughter, sister, friend, coach, speaker, teacher, volunteer I want to be either. My quality of life tanks when my health tanks. I refuse to spend my time, money or energy in & out of doctor’s offices (even though I have the best health care team ever!), cooped up at home, wistfully watching others do what I want to do if I can do something to prevent it. So I make it a priority. I can’t take care of others, unless I myself am healthy.
Lenten Ideas
Lent is a great time to start new habits. Just remember, they may not always go as well as we hope. It’s a good idea to regularly (weekly or even daily) evaluate what went well, what did not & why for both answers. Celebrate your any and all success! Make a change if you need to, but don’t beat yourself up over it-it tends to prevent us from moving forward.
So what are some things you can do to show you/your body self-respect?
- Plan your day the night before and schedule time to pray, eat & move
- Sticky note reminders on the coffee pot, in the car, the bathroom, etc. (yes, my husband says we should buy stock in them…)
- Journal-any way, shape or form of it.
- Write positive affirmations about praying often, eating well & moving more
- Menu plan
- Take your lunch (I’m going on retreat this weekend & taking all my food to make sure I eat and feel well all weekend!)
- Add more non-starchy veggies
- Drink more water (I try to get in 80 oz of plain water a day-on top of coffee in the morning and a Zevia at night)
- Experiment with body movement and do something you look forward to (YouTube is a great place to start if you’re hesitant about purchasing a class or video)
- Have a conversation (or more than one) to help you make changes. FYI: Your spouse, children or others in your life may not want to make the changes you’re making, but you can still ask them to support you and your efforts.
- Celebrate the little things! Did you move today? Fantabulous! 3 days in a row? BONUS! Do a happy dance!
- Set your bedtime & honor it.
- Spend a few minutes every day in thanksgiving for the strong, beautiful, smart body God has blessed you with. It will motivate you to love & respect it all the more!
Drop the Myth & Respect Yourself
You owe it to yourself, your body, others in your life & God to love and respect your body. Our culture has embraced this super-woman notion that we can do it all without refueling or recharging. We all know it’s a myth. The tough part is deciding to stand up for yourself, accept the truth and start fueling and moving your body according to God’s design. Living the happy, active, productive lives you desire and deserve!
How are you going to respect your body?
Are you struggling to with your health? Finding it hard to keep those New Year’s resolutions? Are you ready to invest in yourself, your health, your productivity and make positive changes that will have a positive affect on your quality of life for years to come? Wish you had someone who will work with you and your unique situation instead of just telling you what to do? I have a few open coaching spots. Email me at julie@juliegrunklee.com to set up a time for a free 30 minute call to learn more. I’d love to provide you the support and accountability you need as you strive to reach your health and wellness goals so you can be who you want to be, do what you want to do and enjoy your journey!
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