Day 262: Mantra Monday - "Fake it 'til you make it!"

First, I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughtful and encouraging comments and emails over the past week.  This no-mirrors adventure has had it's ups and downs, and - thanks to my private (well, now public) frustration over gaining a few pounds combined with that lovely NHANES "Preliminary Report (card) of Findings" - the past few weeks have been rough.  As always, I remain determined to focus on healthy behaviors and positive thoughts, and to let the numbers fall where they fall.  I am eternally grateful to have such wonderful family, friends, and readers who help me stay on this path, even when I have my doubts or feel discouraged.  Thank you!

In the spirit of staying on this path of health and positivity, my mantra for this week is:

(Actually, it should be "Fake it 'til you make it!" but who's checking...)

I realize this may seem like an odd phrase to select, since my no-mirrors project is at least partially a quest for greater authenticity.  Is it possible to fake your way into authenticity?  Certainly not in the most literal sense.  Yet, I know from past experience that I often have to change my behavior first, and then wait for my mind to catch up.  In fact, my decision to shun mirrors relies on this logic: I wanted to stop caring so much about my looks, so I stopped looking at myself.  It wasn't instantaneous, but guess what?  Despite some minor self-esteem relapses (including the past few weeks), avoiding mirrors has been an overwhelming success.  All the other interesting things in my life - my goals, passions, friends, family, favorite hobbies, etc. - have attracted the energy and attention I used to give to my looks.  Yeah, it still hurts when somebody - like the U.S. Government - tells me I'm not thin enough, but I have a new identity and healthier practices to fall back on.

So this week I plan to "fake it" back to a healthier and happier place.  I gave myself a head-start last week by getting rid of all of the clothes in my closet that didn't make me feel BOTH stylish and sexy.  Now I only own clothes that make me stand tall and proud (and walk with swaying hips!).  Next up is an attitude adjustment, along with a continued commitment to eat healthfully and stay active, even though I've felt like wallowing on the couch with a bag of chips... and cookies, and cheese, and wine.  This week I will act like I have my shit together, and pretty soon I won't be acting any more.  Hooray!

One last thought.  For those of you who still think "fake it 'til you make it" is a lame mantra, consider this: Gandhi said, "be the change you want to see in the world."   I certainly don't consider myself to be as wise, eloquent, or world-changing as Ghandhi, but my mantra and his famous quote are rooted in the same spirit.  Think about it!  :)

What change would you like to be this week?

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