Fitness Magazines target your insecurities.
Do YOU FEEL FAT YET?
Unfortunately, most media outlets are driven by a dangerous energy: THE ENERGY OF INSECURITY. Most often, articles, pictures, interviews, ads and then some…all focus on trying to make you focus less on yourself and more on a ‘need’ to fulfill who you are through ‘buying’ their stuff.
While I definitely read my fair share of fitness magazines, I definitely don’t read it too, too much. Why? Because firstly, it all says the same stuff. Secondly, the models all look the same (I do have to mention that I wish we had more ethnic models) and Lastly, I don’t read it because it makes me lose focus on myself.
When I start ‘coveting’ magazine models and gidgets and gadgets, I start losing reverence for what I already own. We are all born distinctly different. We all have genetic capabilities to allow us to do amazing things. Some of us can run ultra-marathons, some of us can have tons of babies or carry 4 men out of a burning building. Our bodies is something we can enjoy, challenge and revere as long as we KNOW who we are and what we are capable of achieving.
One of my biggest hopes for all of you is to:
- not focus so much on what you don’t have, look at the things you do have
- compare yourself with a positive role model
- revere and respect the body God gave you
- don’t seek happiness outside of yourself. Look within.
Here is an excerpt from my personal website discussing a recent personal battle with insecurity:
….Life is much simpler when you start realizing all the simple things that bring you happiness.
So Simple.
The best way to live is to live minimally. When you don’t have the urge to need, the desire to want, and the covetousness for objects displaying wealth…then you start to become free. Freedom is not a given, it is a conscious choice.
While on the treadmill the other morning, I borrowed my sister’s fashion magazine, and started desiring expensive and more fashionable clothes. It was a deep rooted desire that I had never felt before. Most media marketing targets people’s insecurities. They are tailored to make you feel uncomfortable, unsatisfied and imperfect. When you start becoming trapped by forces of desire – you start losing your freedom to be conscious of a life chosen by personal will.
It’s difficult to not be tempted when you exist in a world where everyone seems so drawn to the dark energy of pride, ego, insecurity – it is rare when you meet people who don’t live ‘in the flesh’ but instead, they live ‘in the spirit’. Living in the Spirit means true freedom. When you are able to not judge those regardless of physical beauty or belongings, when you are able to discipline earthly desires for objects satisfying the ego….when you are able to be happy when all is sad, be positive when all is negative, be free when all is imprisoned…then you are housing a powerful and eternal spirit.
I came back to my spirit this past week. I silenced a mind that was loud with insecurity.
Quite simply, I don’t need more stuff, I don’t need more clothes…I need more freedom to be me. Being who you are is what brings real happiness.
Each day is a battle to find that solace…but as I put that magazine down and felt beautiful wearing my favorite workout shoes and ten dollar t-shirt, I started feeling like I am starting to win.
Thanks for reading.
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