By Keri Nola, MA, LMHC

Are there times when you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally heavy? Do you sometimes look in the mirror and wonder who is staring back at you? Are you tired of trying everything you know about how to look and feel your best only be left frustrated, back at square one?

For many of us, our journeys with physical and emotional self-care have been a wild rollercoaster ride at best.  We live in a society obsessed with quick fixes and instant pleasure and gratification, and we often jump on this bandwagon only to be disappointed when we don’t get the long-term results we deserve and desire.

Here’s the deal – physical and emotional self-care is a process. Our well-being is our responsibility 24/7 and that means being willing to make mindful choices moment after moment each day to get the results we are seeking. Whether getting “lighter” means losing weight or freeing your mind and heart from chaos, these 3 tips can support you in lightening up.

Explore the Benefit: Before we can release something, we have to acknowledge why we’ve been holding onto it for all this time. I know this may sound crazy and you may be asking yourself, how would I be benefitting from being overweight, depressed and anxious? The truth is there can be many reasons! Some of us use weight as an illusion of protection in our relationships. Depression can be a way we get others to pay attention to us, and anxiety can be an excuse to stay small and not do things that scare us. We don’t do things that don’t serve us—period.  So if you’re ready to make a change, let yourself explore this statement: “If I’m emotionally, mentally and/or physically lighter, I’m afraid that…” See what arises in this space and meet it with compassion. This awareness in itself empowers you to move forward.

Bring in Compassion: One of the ways we sabotage our personal growth is by beating ourselves up and struggling to bring compassion and kindness to patterns, behaviors, and emotions we say we want to change. The truth is, when we are ready to change, WE DO! Until then, it is most helpful and empowering to meet ourselves wherever we are with compassion. A practice of mindful self-kindness and care is one of the quickest ways to bring lightness into our experience. Often times it isn’t our circumstances that are heavy, but rather the judgment we place on ourselves about being in them. How can you lighten up the pressure you’ve been putting on yourself to do more and be more?

Clarify Intention and Surrender to Letting Go: In order to feel lighter, we often have to be willing to let something go. This can be a belief, a behavior, a relationship, a job, or any number of other things. Consider asking yourself, what am I feeling most weighted down by right now? Then clarify your intention of what you’d be willing to let go so you can welcome space for the lightness you desire. If you find you’re still holding onto something keeping you from gaining the lightness you want, meet yourself there with gentleness and know that will begin to create the space for change. You’re right where you need to be at this moment. All is well.

If you’re serious about Getting Lighter, I’d love to share this FREE audio with you on how to take what you already know, deeper.

Author of “A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspiration to Reconnect With Your Soul,” and “44 Holistic Tips for Peaceful Sleep,” Keri Nola is a highly regarded psychotherapist, and Founder of Path To Growth LLC, an integrative healing center based in Central Florida. She combines traditional and holistic techniques to create products and experiences that help people access their inner wisdom and create a healthy mind, body and spirit to live their most inspired lives. Her real life experience paired with her extensive education and work background makes her a compassionate, balanced, and sought-after professional in the areas of personal and spiritual growth and development. For more information, visit www.pathtogrowth.com; follow Keri on Twitter @PathtoGrowth; or on Facebook.