enough.
ENOUGH
comes
before
freedom.
Michelle Bernard :: enough. from Michelle Bernard on Vimeo.
you are seen,
Michelle Bernard
Tag: strength
Life isn’t short. For some, it’s long.
Girl, you have fallen’ into some big ole holes, and I know how much it has hurt you.
I know you can barely breathe down there in your pursuit of “all there is”- down there gasping to create a relationship that validates you, unraveling in a job-change you thought would define you (but is attacking your beliefs about humanity), in the arduous pursuit of sustainable health insurance.
But you will get another opportunity to choose soon. Really.
In about 5 months you won’t need to keep cranberry juice in the fridge for your vodka and you won’t need to workout twice a day to keep your butt from blowing up because of the chocolate chip cookie dough. 
Your angry prayers and creative visualization notebooks will move you to a safer ground.
Don’t stop doing that work!
One thing I learned from you is to state my desired outcome like I know for certain it will happen.
Especially when I have no idea how IT will happen, still say IT must.
With no alternative.
That worked for you.
Thanks for giving me that.
Here’s what I wish to give to you, my 10 year younger mE.
Stamp these in your belly.
1. Stand with your intuition. When you feel you know, you are correct. You do.
2. Don’t tell everyone all your detailed feelings.
Explain only when you have established trust. Folks you can trust will hold your feelings sacred instead of using your life as something casual to talk about.
3. Journal often. Try audio when you’re scared to write.
4. Finish writing ThemKids. It’s really good.
5. Stop fixing people. Oh God girl, I know it’s your nature, but please stop pushing the fix in your private life.
It will exhaust you and deplete the enthusiasm you need for your beliefs.
Simply, offer advice if you’re asked, but don’t beg anyone to take it.
6. Respect every woman you see. They are precious. You have so much in common. You do.
7. Protect your spiritual center. Let it expand. It will make you magical.
Life isn’t short for everyone. For some, it’s long.
Life is precious.
What always amazes me is that we get so many chances to be who we want to be.
Regret isn’t necessary.
You are not going to make a bad decision.
So every time you decide something, be as bold as brass. It all fits somewhere.
Each year, you’ll see, this life gets more and more meaningful,
and you will learn that sometimes
breaking the conventions and “supposed tos”
is what will bring you the most happiness.
more
You are more than your BODy.
You are your beliefs.
So here I am, teaching a studio full of exercise birdies of all ages, sizes, and characters who have just finished pumping out 60 push-ups on tippy-toe in sets of 20.
Grumbling and moaning low, they sprawl into positions that might indicate the end of class.
That’s when I speak out…
“We’re doing 60 more.
You might be tired, now. Really.
Your arms might be sore, or maybe you feel like the breathing is seriously tough because you can’t stop choking down the discomfort of burning triceps and shoulders.
But guess what?
I don’t care.
I don’t care how your BODy feels.
I don’t care.
You are more than a BODy.
So, let’s go.
3 more sets of 20 push-ups!”
You are your beliefs, not your BODy.
The thing is, discomfort freaks us out.
We avoid it like a pothole.
We avoid it like a pothole.
But just so you CAN get some perspective: the discomfort we feel after a series of push-ups or any challenging exercise only lasts about 30 frickn seconds!
The discomfort from heartburn after eating a Big Mac and super fries, from the top of your jeans tattooing a red gash into your belly, or your doc snarling and sighing before she hands you your blood work report is discomfort that lasts much longer!!
So get comfortable and start believing that you CAN make strong, impactful, healthy choices for your thriving self!
Believe you are the one who happily smacks the Mikey D bag of sugar and grease to the curb.
Believe that you are the one who spins and turns your world on with your smile then does a Mary Tyler Moore fling of your blood work report into the air.
Believe you are the one who CAN complete 120 push ups.
Believe you CAN, you fine and fit thang!
You are MORE than your BOD.
You are your beliefs.
What do you believe you CAN do, be, or have in 2015?
create
sculpt.
from clay.
wearable art.
it’s all art, isn’t it?
the jewel.
the BODy.
the life.
create.
take stuff away.
or add.
step back and see how it looks.
put it on. how does it feel?
you can always start again.
you never finish.
we all start again.
we’re all wearing art.
◎ dedicated to my friend.
the jewels are all hand-sculpted from stoneware clay with recycled glass.
Don’t hate the haters
Don’t hate “the haters”. Sympathize with them.
Here’s the deal-eo
The more focused you become as a beLOvedBODy lover (what I call folks who belong to my camp of health and fitness devotion), and the more often you make conscious choices about what, when and how much to eat, and the more you keep your sacred appointments to attend the gym/ workout
~the more you will notice certain folks react to you with their snippy “evil attack”!
We’ll call these folks “the haters” ( for now).
The haters may say things to you about food like
“come on, just taste it.”
“you mean you can’t have just one?”
“but I made it…”
” is that all you’re gonna eat? “
“You’re no fun anymore.”
Ugh!
They may smoke and snarl about your new disciplinary demeanor. They comment about your desire to meet your fitness appointments by saying “grimy” things like,
” you’re going to the gym again?”
“Don’t you think you’re working out too much?”
“What if you just gain all the weight back ?”
“If you’re that sore maybe you shouldn’t be working out for a while”
They try and guilt you with
” but I thought we could … But since you have to go to the gym…”
Whenever we beLOvedBODy lovers hear these words, even me, a personal trainer!, we either cringe, roll our eyes, feel guilty and hand over our power, or lace our boxing gloves for a round of self-defense.
The reason why we hate these comments is because they trigger real fears about either our bodies( maybe I will gain all the weight back- oh no!) or it makes us feel obligated to sacrifice our personal commitment ( self-care) for the (selfish) need of another.
But as I said before, don’t hate “the haters” for speaking their truth.
Sympathize with “the hater”.
You see, you are choosing to live boldly.
You are choosing health over personal neglect. You are moving mental mountains. You are living your vision.
These choices take extraordinary strength, commitment, and clarity.
“The hater” has not mastered this supreme transmutation. But everybody has this potential! Everybody does! We all just need some help!
So sympathize.
Explain your choices to “the haters” with loving brevity – keep it short and clear ( don’t defend, ever, it’s exhausting!), and the keep it movin’, beLOved.
Be an example, a leader. Be amazing, not offended.
You might just be the support factor “the hater” needs to invert, and join forces.
Maximize your strength!
I Believe You Can,
your trainer,
michelle bernard
