Answering the Call…

Once upon a time an eagle’s egg was found by a farmer and mistaken for a chicken egg. The egg was placed with the other eggs in the incubator at the hen house.

Some weeks later that egg hatched. The baby eagle was born and raised as a chicken with his chicken peers. He was taught to peck and scratch. He was taught to scurry along the ground like the other chickens. He was sternly warned against flying, because chickens don’t really fly, they flutter and fall.

This eagle made a miserable chicken. He didn’t scurry well. He didn’t peck well. He was always hungry, because chicken feed was just never satisfying to him. The other chickens found him disruptive.

After years of struggling to be a normal chicken, this poor eagle’s self esteem was pretty low. He hated himself. “Why am I so big, and awkward and unusual looking?” he would wonder, “Why can I not find satisfaction in those things that satisfy all the other chickens?”

“Is this all there is to life?” he agonized, “Where’s the thrill and excitement?!”

He began to do more and more disruptive things just to get a little hit of excitement. He was starved for action and adventure, so he tried to make up his own thrilling dramas around the chicken coop. Other chickens caught on to his discontent and called him selfish, disordered and a troublemaker. The poor eagle took it all to heart and became depressed.

One day, high overhead the young eagle saw another eagle soaring high in the sky. It took his breath away. For that moment he felt a surge of recognition. He felt something inside him stirring and he felt more alive than he ever had.
In his excitement he told his family of chickens what he saw and they scoffed at him. “Flying is risky, irresponsible and impractical.” the chickens warned. “When will you grow up and join the pecking order of this chicken coop. Why can’t you be more like your peers?”

The young eagle was shamed and disheartened. He felt hopeless and alone as he fell to sleep that night.

The next day, to his delight, he spotted that same eagle soaring up above. And this time the soaring bird let out the cry of an eagle.

The moment the young eagle heard this cry something unexpected happened. The young eagle raised by chickens found his body lurching and his throat contracting. Uncontrollably his entire being responded to that eagle’s cry with his own majestic eagle cry.

He was astonished. “What had just happened?” “Did that glorious sound come from him? Chickens don’t make that sound! Only eagles do. … Wait…. Only eagles do!”

The young eagle, finally aware of what he truly was, stretched out his wings for the first time and flew. He was no longer imprisoned by the chicken coop, because he was no longer imprisoned by the idea that he had to be a chicken. Nothing could contain him anymore.

A chicken coop can only coop chickens; it cannot stop an eagle from soaring when he hears his call.

Have you heard your call? Maybe this is it.

What are the reasons for you being overweight? Now it’s important to distinguish here between reasons and excuses, there is a difference.
If you have been to the doctors and been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, which slows the metabolism. This is a reason.
If you sit at home failing to exercise or watch what you eat, thinking you have a slow metabolism, that’s an excuse.
Even if you do have a medical condition such as a slow metabolism, a reason. You can still use it as an excuse, “What’s the point in trying to watch my weight” by doing nothing. You can still make a difference about the way you look and feel by doing something!
There are nearly always a number of contributing factors which lead to being overweight.
I’ve yet to come across anyone who says differently.
I’d like you to take some time to write down why you are overweight. Identify which are the facts, reasons that contribute. And which are the excuses you hide behind.
I want you to dig deep inside your mind. Write down everything that comes to you. Remember, these are not to be judged, there is no shame by saying “because I eat too much junk food.” Dig deep and be honest. You may reel off a dozen things, maybe one or two. But the harder you think and deeper you dig you’re more likely to find the honest, deep meaningful answers. Remember cast aside your judgements on whether things are good or bad, or whether you are ashamed or embarrassed. This exercise is purely about honesty. If it’s something you really think or believe that contributes to you being overweight, write it down. No matter how insignificant it may seem, it may lead to the discovery of a more meaningful underlying issue.

Once you have written your list, and sorted out which are reasons and which are excuses take a look at the list.

Just imagine, what if you could cross off or minamalise every item on the list. How would your life be different? How would you be different? How would you look? Imagine it, how would you feel?

In order to cross off each item on the list you are going to need to do something! So now you need to decide what? And, when?

Just take it one step at a time! It may be a long list or there may be some things that appear difficult. Just remember, one step at a time? Formulate a plan for each item what you are going to do, then do it!

If it is something big, break it down into small steps. And NEVER be afraid to ask for help if you need it! If you get stuck, ask me. Ask one of the experts on this site.

Good luck and best wishes on your journey

Paul Wells

So many times you hear people say ?????I hate my body??????? or ?????I wish I had Kylie?????s bum??????? or Rachel Hunters legs, so and so?????s boobs, cheekbones etc.
We and I say ?????we????? loosely because from personal experience, I?????m sorry ladies, but on this you are the worst culprits.
If anyone can come up with a one stop shop for celebrity body parts they would be billionaires! And notice its nearly all celebrities. The chosen few genetically gifted, silicone and botox enhanced, with air brushed photos!
And isn?????t it kind of ironic that often the celebrities that are the envy of so many, and the reason for much self loathing among the female population, who are admired by millions, also dislike their own bodies and are often so self-conscious they use body doubles. Sadly, due to pressure of maintaining the illusion of perfection many resort to drink and drugs develop severe eating disorders, illness and depression. Some even resort to deception and lies, Jade Goody?????s fitness video and the publicity surrounding Fern Britton being two recent examples.
The women who supposedly have the best bodies often seem to hate themselves, what chance does the average person have? They are told that this is the perfect female form, yet the owner of the supposed ?????perfect????? form also wishes they had someone else?????s parts/body.

Amazing! So who is happy with their body? Well, love it or loathe it, it?????s the only one you are going to have in this lifetime. Don?????t you think it would be better if both your mind and your body got on? Imagine if your body could talk what would it say to you. Can you imagine what your bottom would say to you, ?????I carry you around, support you, keep you comfy when sitting and what thanks do I get???????.Your butt may say, ?????I hate  that Mr Brain that looks after me, they stuff me with junk food, sit on me all day never allowing me to exercise, then ?????they????? say ?????they????? hate me for being big, and wish I was someone else?????s???????.

Perhaps we should all start listening/paying as much attention to our bodies as we do to our minds.

The point that I’m trying to make here is listen to your body! Next time you fancy that cake or those sweets, or you face a choice between the healthy option and the not so healthy option, ask your body first!

Ask your belly, butt or thighs if you should have the fruit salad or chocolate cake? Then pay attention to the answer, it just may surprise you!

 Does your body talk to you? You bet it does when you look in the mirror. What stands out the most? What do you notice?
Your body? Screaming at you, ?????just bloody look at me???????? And what goes through your mind, Mr. Brain takes a look and says ?????I hate you!??????? But, what has your body done wrong? Nothing! There is absolutely nothing wrong with your body!
There is absolutely no reason or logic to hate, dislike or be angry with your body. The problem lies fairly and squarely with Mr Brain. And that is also a reality that you need to come to terms with. The issue is in your brain, your mind. Which controls the way you think, the way you feel and the way you behave!
Including what you eat and your levels of activity. It also explains why diets and exercise alone don?????t work!
They only change the way you behave, and temporarily suppress or try to hold in check the way you think and the way you feel. Which can only be maintained for a relatively short period of time. Because you still think and feel the same, as soon as you come off  the diet, it takes very little time to slide comfortably back into the old routines and habits. Leading to yo-yo dieting, up and downsizing of clothes.  

So be friends with your body, love your body for what it is and what it does for you. And next time you look in the mirror, find two things you really like about yourself! It may be your hair, eyes or your smile. Whatever it is find two things and focus on them!

Good luck and best wishes on your journey,

Paul Wells