Credit Where Credit is Due

So I was flipping through the "stacks" of pictures I have on my computer, and I came across these before and after photos from two years ago. With the help of Slim in 6 and Turbo Jam, I lost 20 pounds over 100 days. Not too shabby, but you know the sad part? I totally didn't give myself credit for that. Looking back on it, I want to say to that Courtney, "What are you thinking? Look at what you've accomplished!" But at the time, it wasn't good enough. I had worked hard, but I still had a smidge of a tummy...a miniscule smidge...and so I wasn't where I wanted to be. The solution: I gave up. I hadn't achieved what I wanted in that 100 days so who the heck cared? But what if instead of giving up I had just pushed a bit harder for the next 30 days? And the next 30 after that? What if I had said, "Dude! You rock!" instead of being disappointed in myself.

It really doesn't make sense to me now. It's kind of like looking back on junior high and high school, and wondering why all that hooey was so important back then. I had a "bad hair day" at least two times a week when I was a teenager...sometimes it was every day. Well, I haven't had a bad hair day since my senior year of college. And no, I don't have different hair. It's still the same as it's always been (maybe a different cut), and the basic substance is the same. So what changed? My perspective did. Sure I have days that I think to myself, "Oh, so your hair is going to flip that way today. Ok, works for me!" but I'm not obsessing over the fact that one side flips under and the other side flips out looking like I'm getting a nice side wind. It is what it is. I did my best getting ready in the morning so I'm happy with the results. Now I just have to translate that to the whole body image thing.

I read once that we can't be motivated by the results, and I think that's true. We all set expectations for ourselves, and so what do we do when we don't quite reach those expectations? What do you do? Do you pat yourself on the back for what you did accomplish? Or do you cut yourself down for not achieving what you think you should have?

Whatever your accomplishment is, give yourself credit. I'm going to work on that too! :)

Court