A Weigh Out Empowerment Tool #26 (of 52 Tools) asks our Circle Members to write their “story”. We all have stories. In my coaching work with clients, I have discovered that bringing the stories into conscious awareness can be very illuminating.
Here’s Rachel’s “Story”. When she emailed it to me, she wanted me to know that the last paragraph was a “realization”!
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Rachel’s Story
What’s my story? When asked to write my story on who I am and who I want to be I came up with some interesting information about myself.
[private_membership circle]
-I have 3 beautiful, wonderful remarkable children that amaze me every day.
-I have a great sense of humor.
-I am a kind friend who will listen and assist and works to never judge.
-I have mastered many technologies.
-I have lived in multiple countries and found challenges and joy in each of them.
-I moved my family 4 times in 4 years including across the ocean and back again. I managed the movers and the setting up house and the closing down house. I kept the finances running.
-I failed out of college only to graduate within 6 months of the original plan and become a successful IT professional.
-I am admired in my field and have been asked to speak at conferences and lead teams through adverse conditions to successful conclusions.
-I am a skier. Almost 4 years ago I fell and tore up my knee requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation. I have not let this set back stop me and I am a better skier today than I ever was before.
-I love to exercise. I have been a member of my gym for over two years and I ‘own’ the coveted up front spot on the Monday night step class.
-I’ve hiked a number of national parks. My biggest claim to fame however is the 18 mile hike roundtrip up the mountain that I live on.
-I have wonderful friends all over the world. I have had the opportunity to meet many people and experience, learn and laugh with them.
-I have wonderful parents who taught me some of life’s most important lessons- Honesty is most important, learn to forgive and trust, education is the key to opportunities and love your children unconditionally.
-I am self sufficient and I can support my family financially.
-I’ve never lost a job or been fired.
-I am generally very healthy- no cholesterol, blood pressure, chronic illness issues
-I am an avid reader and have read lots of books on fiction and non-fiction.
-I started my own book club over 3 years ago and it is thriving.
-I am a loving wife who is always finding ways to improve the relationship even more.
-I am a good cook- I provide tasty and healthy meals for my family that they often request to be made again.
All of these items look pretty good to me. Here’s the kicker – to have all of this success my weight has never played a role AT ALL. That’s right, it has not mattered what I weighed nor will it matter what I weigh in the future to show success. My weight does not define me- it is not part of my story. Isn’t that great?
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It’s beyond great, Rachel! It’s wonderful, empowering, and it’s the truth untarnished by cultural bias and size-ism.
Honestly, when it comes to sharing our gifts, our talents, our intelligence, our humor, our love, our self-esteem, what does weight have to do with anything?
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Ellen Shuman is a Life Coach who specializes in emotional and binge eating issues. She is the founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Eating Disorder Treatment, Vice President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and Co-Chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com
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