Emotional well-being is a vital aspect of a woman’s holistic health and well-being. It is as important as physical fitness or dietary health.
Yet cultivating emotional well-being strategies is often undervalued or overshadowed by stereotypes and misconceptions about mental and emotional health.
For women, learning to be emotionally fit is not just about managing emotions; it’s about cultivating resilience, understanding, and self-compassion. It’s a journey of self-discovery that parallels learning a new physical exercise routine or discovering which foods best nourish our bodies.
In our collective journey as women, we gradually unravel a profound truth about health – it’s not a quest for perfection or a submission to societal expectations. True health is about embracing our entire being, recognizing that we are a mosaic of emotions and experiences. Anger, joy, sadness, and every emotion in between are not just fleeting states of mind but integral parts of who we are. Accepting and embracing these emotions liberates us from the constraints of perceived perfection.
As we navigate through life, we learn to view growth as a beautiful, ever-unfolding opportunity. Our mistakes and emotions are not detours but essential threads in the rich tapestry of our lives. This realization is particularly empowering for us as women, in a world that often expects us to uphold an unrealistic facade of flawlessness.
By acknowledging that true health encompasses emotional, mental, and physical well-being, we open ourselves to a more authentic, compassionate way of living.
Our health needs are all unique and important
Reflecting on my childhood, I recall moments when expressing anger was met with dismissal from my parents. They saw it as a sign of weakness, a sentiment not uncommon in many households. This experience led me to a profound realization about health and well-being. I began to craft my own definition of health, one that embraced every facet of being human – not just the physical aspects, but the emotional and mental ones too.
It is the journey of self empowernment and taking ownership of emotional stability that allows us to live more fully. It encourages us to break free from the shackles of perfectionism and to embrace our true selves. In doing so, we find a more profound connection with ourselves and with others, fostering a sense of community and understanding that is deeply healing and empowering. Our approach to health thus becomes a reflection of our inner strength and resilience, a testament to the unique and beautiful complexities of being a woman.
Emotionally fit women enjoy the challenge of adversity
The journey to fitness and health transcends physical boundaries; it’s deeply intertwined with our emotional well-being. For many women, life’s myriad challenges – from managing family responsibilities to professional demands – can significantly impact their fitness routines and overall health goals. It’s not just the actions we take towards our health that count, but our emotional response to life’s hurdles. These responses dictate our focus and determination to maintain healthy habits consistently.
Often, women wait for a surge of motivation – a ‘right moment’ to restart Pilates or a ‘better time’ post-recovery from an injury to focus on health. However, this reliance on elusive motivation is a misstep.
True motivation stems from action. It’s the small steps, like a gentle walk or a few minutes of stretching, that ignite our energy. This energy, in turn, fuels further action. The act of moving, even minimally, lessens stiffness and enhances our mood, encouraging us to do more.
A balanced health journey for women means being adaptable and resilient.
Regardless of external circumstances – whether it’s a hectic day at home or challenges at work – it’s about finding opportunities to integrate fitness into daily life. This could mean doing Pilates at home, stretching between meetings, or turning a run on the beach into a playful activity with the kids. It’s about creating a sustainable fitness routine that weathers life’s unpredictability, keeping us grounded and focused on our well-being.
Being balanced with our emotions and internal world allows us to focus our energy on the actions that matter most towards our health and our families health.
Here are 7 ways you can start to create attract more great emotional wellbeing in your life:
- Emotional Well-Being and Results:
- Achieving fitness and health goals isn’t solely about physical effort. It’s equally important to be emotionally fit, which means being in control of our feelings, thoughts, and emotions.
- Taking Charge of Responses:
- While we can’t always control external circumstances, we have the power to take charge of how we respond to them. This involves not getting entangled in unnecessary drama or negative influences.
- Coping with Life Circumstances:
- Life events, such as the challenges posed by a pandemic, are inevitable. How we choose to navigate and respond to these circumstances greatly impacts our emotional well-being. E.g choosing to turn off the news or read a book that inspires.
- Emotional Resilience:
- Cultivating emotional health allows us to navigate through life’s ups and downs without it significantly affecting our overall well-being. E.g practicing self compassion when feeling any kind of strong emotion “Even though I feel angry/hurt/helpless/unjust/betrayed I have every right to feel these and I choose to work through them and I completely accept myself”.
- Mind-Body Connection:
- Recognizing that our thoughts are reactions to life events underscores the importance of the mind-body connection. Our thoughts trigger our feelings, which in turn influence our actions.
- Action Based on Feelings:
- Our actions are influenced by our feelings. When we’re in a positive emotional state, we’re more likely to take proactive steps towards our fitness and health goals. Try these affirmations: “I am so pleased with my efforts to be more compassionate towards my emotions and needs”. “I am loving the way I feel when I encourage meself so my efforts and learnings rather than listen to any discouragement”.
- Minimizing Energy Drain:
- Maintaining emotional equilibrium means we’re not expending unnecessary energy on unproductive or negative emotions. This leaves us with more energy to focus on constructive actions and achieving our desired results.