It's Springtime!

Spring is in the air: birds are chirping the news of their return, baby squirrels are wrestling in

the grass and scurrying up trees, and blooming flowers fill the air with their unique beauty and scents.

Soon we will see cyclists riding in packs and parks turned into outdoor gyms and yoga studios.

This Spring, as you think about the weight you want to lose and that banging beach-body you want to build, might you also give thought to your inner Self?

Remember her? That’s the exhausted part of you that usually winds up being the last thought on your to-do lists and the last real person in need that you care for.

What might your inner Self want in this season?

Spring is about rebirth, rejuvenation, resurrection. How might the inner you begin anew, or, like a Phoenix, rise to a higher height with new life?

Taking time to even contemplate this question is a valuable starting place. When you take time to contemplate your needs, you are reenforcing the notion that you matter. The more you feel like you matter, the more your will include your Self and prioritize your needs.

If you are in the habit of rushing past or ignoring your Self and leaving your Self out of your life, then the simple act of taking TIME to ASK your Self how you might want to do life differently is like pouring water on a neglected plant. Life will rush into the dry shrunken places, filling you with life and strength.

So, as you think about getting ready for Spring, here is my suggestion:

When you look at your body and see the weight you want to lose, don’t just pay attention to your physical form. Also, see the person you want to become: Do you want more aliveness, joy, peace, confidence, Self-care, etc.? Whatever you want, NAME IT! You are far more likely to manifest the missing qualities in your life if you acknowledge that they are missing. Remember: You can’t change what you can’t see. Naming what you see helps you be more targeted in your efforts to change. Naming what you want helps you intentionally reach for it with every action you choose to take.

Bring to mind one current characteristic that you feel “weighs” you down. Maybe you take life too personally or you are quick to judge or focus on the past.

You probably know right now the habit you want to change. Be bold and name it.

Then, when you see yourself doing this, take a moment and envision how you want to be or respond differently in the future. Literally, identify the words you want to use and the actions you want to take instead.

The next time you are behaving in the old, no-longer-wanted way, PRACTICE making an internal shift towards your new vision. Stop yourself mid-sentence or mid-old-action, if necessary and EFFORT to think and respond in the way that aligns with your new vision of your life.

Think of making this effort being like lifting weights in the gym - strengthening your inner Self, making you strong enough to one day soon be your new more sexy, powerful Self.

With practice, the person inside the image of you in the mirror will be more alive and confident, and definitely higher on your list of priorities.

For a place to practice, practice, practice new more powerful ways of being, The Inner Fitness Studio community has got your back.

Tina Lifford plays Aunt Vi on the critically acclaimed television show, Queen Sugar. The Little Book of Big Lies: A Journey Into Inner Fitness is her first book; released by Harper Collins, November 2019, and is full of the kind of internal “actions” that will transform your thinking and your life. You can also join her at a workout in her Inner Fitness Studio to practice strengthening your wellbeing and making it actionable in your day to day life. Don't miss the latest news from Tina Lifford and The Inner Fitness Project. Sign up our monthly newsletter here.