Recently I was feeling restless for a new place to live -  I was craving more windows, more light, more space, wood floors. All I needed was a good excuse to overlook the time and expense of a move to justify looking around at other places. A few plumbing problems later, I had my excuse. 

I didn’t want to move far- same zip code even - just to a different building. So I spent a couple weekends looking at other places in nearby neighborhoods. But the more I looked, the more I was reminded of the things I love about my current place that I couldn’t find at any of the new places - the dog park and all the friendly dog lovers in the neighborhood, my quiet street-free of traffic noise, (with an atypical amount of free parking nearby), my intimate, small complex with friendly tenants, private garage, pool……..

Focusing on the positive things made me realize I did not need an entirely new place to live right this instant - I just needed to make a few changes to my current place. A little redecorating and de-cluttering I thought, is all it would take to be happy in this apartment that I already loved.

So, I did just that. I took down curtains I have hated for awhile, let the sunlight in, changed color schemes, painted, brightened the place up, removed every book, magazine, CD and movie that was doing nothing but taking up space and overall, created a space that has helped improve my mood from the second I walk in the door. It allows me to focus and concentrate better, and allows me to be more creative and productive.

After that experience, I realized that this is very similar to the way all of us, at some point, have felt about our own body. We can feel trapped inside our current version of ourselves, wanting to trade it in for another one all together - for that one over there - in the magazine - with the flatter stomach, longer legs, perkier boobs.

We feel this way when we’ve spent too much  time focusing on the negatives - the rolls and curves and veins and freckles, the stretch marks, sags and bags and all of our other perceived flaws. Focusing in on those things is like focusing on wanting more windows and wood floors without remembering the pool and quiet street with no parking hassles.

Essentially, it has the same effect on our psyche as coming home to the dark, cluttered apartment - it’ll make anyone depressed and uncomfortable in your own space!

But when you stop to think of the good- the heart that has gotten you this far and continues to pump the blood through those varicose veins, the skin, that although more wrinkled than ten years ago, is free of cancer despite years of abuse under the sun’s rays.

Your legs, that in spite of some dimples or cellulite, carry you through your days; the lungs that allow you to breathe; the sexual organs that created your babies and make it possible for sharing sexual intimacy and pleasure with your mate; your breasts, albeit less robust than in your twenties, dutifully nourished your kids when called upon to do so; your functioning eyes that allow you to take in the beauty of all of those same loved ones - well now, the “dwelling” you live in just does not seem so bad after all, does it? In fact, it’s a damn blessing!

And just as with my apartment scenario, by focusing on these positives, it can allow you to see the true potential of your body which will inspire you to make the minor adjustments needed on the parts you don’t like - “redecorating” in the form of gaining muscle and making aesthetic improvements - “de-cluttering” in the form of fat loss or toxin cleansing. All of which, will allow you to be a happier “tenant” for years to come. 

Now go focus on your positives, let the sunlight in, and go redecorate the body you already love!