After a long and refreshing weekend, I got right back into the grind of things.

We did our 11am workout outside open to anyone! (come join us Indianapolis people!) and I taught CXWORX later that evening.

pick a park workout NIFS

Lunch was a delicious salad with a chickpea lentil veggie burger on top of zucchini mixed with my avocado dill dressing, spinach, romaine, tomatoes, carrots, and celery.lunch

Dinner was another delicious salad featuring a new-to-me green…ARUGULA!

Brian’s parents gave us a bunch of greens leftover from their weekend and I saw Davida from The Healthy Maven post a recipe for a delicious looking arugula salad yesterday.  I just happened to have most of the ingredients on hand, so I whipped it up and topped it with shrimp and Brian and I both cleaned our plates!

Arugula Salad via The Healthy Maven

I didn’t have any pesto and I didn’t feel like dirtying the food processor, so I just chopped up some basil and put the individual dressing ingredients on top of the entire salad and then tossed it all in together which worked out great!  Seriously, this combination of flavors was awesome!

Arugula Salad via The Healthy Maven

Do What Comes Naturally

Recently, I have been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting.  I’m currently reading Danielle LaPorte’s Fire Starter Sessions and absolutely loving it.  I’m still at the very beginning…it takes me a while to get through books because I have a hard time dedicating all of my attention to one task at a time…but it’s still making me THINK.

One take-away that I have from the book so far is that we should all focus on what comes naturally to us, and we should stop trying to force things we don’t have an interest in, aren’t good at, etc.  This idea from Danielle REALLY got me thinking.

I’m sure we can all get like this, but recently I have been falling victim to the dreaded “comparison trap.”  You know that feeling when you start to look at everyone else and think their bodies, lives, blogs, careers, families are so “perfect” and you wish yours was that “perfect” too?  This “comparison trap” makes me forget how grateful and thankful I am for the things that I have.

Well, when I got to the first worksheet in Danielle’s book I needed to make a list of all the things that come naturally to me and the things I have a natural curiosity about, and I started to really think about how I NEED to just accept myself the way that I am and do what makes me HAPPY!

I was having some serious self-doubts for a while because I was thinking, despite how much I work out or how healthy I eat, that I wasn’t doing enough because I didn’t look a certain way (not muscular enough, not fit enough, etc)…when I started to list all of the things I was interested in and passionate about naturally and truly, I realized and remembered that I have NEVER been super athletic or muscular, that’s just not ME.  While I have always LOVED challenging myself, moving my body and being active, when it comes to sports (especially competitive sports) my heart was just never there…and that’s ok!!  I like to be active, fit, and healthy for myself and for fun.

I realized I was having unrealistic expectations of myself that were adding a completely new level of stress that I just didn’t need to deal with.  I realized I was giving myself restrictive, self-made “rules” which totally go AGAINST the idea of “holistic total body and mind wellness” that I believe in.

So, this post may be a little bit of me just rambling on but I wanted to share with all of you because I feel like I have had such a big “Aha!” moment.  Seriously, since I started The Fire Starter Sessions and really started thinking through my life and how I want to feel and what I want to do with my life I just feel so much more motivation, energy and excitement for the future (although it’s pretty scary too!).

OK, so is there a point to all this rambling?  I guess, just listen to your body, your true self, and your heart.  Do what comes naturally and what you love, accept the imperfections of life, and for goodness sake don’t fall into the “comparison trap.”   🙂

Thanks for being a sounding board and a support system, friends!

Question of the Morning:

  • Do you ever find yourself falling victim to the comparison trap?  
  • How do you get yourself out?
  • Have you read any self-help motivating books?  If so, what are they!?  I want to add to my list.
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  1. I LOVE Danielle LaPorte. I read The Fire Started Sessions and am currently devouring The Desire Map. I agree with basically everything she says.

    I’ve fallen into the comparison trap so many times- really at each big step in my life. Sometimes it’s hard as an entrepreneur, especially, because it’s tempting to think, “If I could only write like her, or had a body like her, or blah blah blah I’d have more followers, clients, etc.” I’m learning to embrace the things that are different about me and trust that it will work out for the best *because* of the differences.

    Great post, by the way. Thanks for sharing! It’s an important topic.

    • I am soooo in love with The Fire Starter Sessions and can’t wait to get The Desire Map under my belt too. You have such a great outlook about the comparison trap!! I read a quote once that said “There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.” So I always try to keep that in the back of my head 🙂

  2. I’ve definitely fallen into the comparison trap before. It wasn’t until a close friend told me that she really looks up to me and is inspired by my passion for fitness that I realized that even though I do compare myself to others, I am still an inspiration for the people around me – and that is all I truly want. It can be so easy to get caught up in the comparison trap that you lose sight of how great you really are.

    Great post! 🙂

    • Isn’t it crazy how others view us/the world? I’m so glad your friend had the courage to tell you how important you are to her. It just goes to show, you never know who you are inspiring. Thanks for reading, Claire!

  3. Tara, I did enjoy your post today. Me like anyone else have got into comparison trap sometimes, especially very recently! It’s important to try to get ourselves out of it! One of the books I have read and helped me out was “Your Erroneous Zones” by Wayne Dyer! You might probably like to read it! 🙂
    Btw you are full of motivation and energy and I receive this positive energy whenever I see you! 😉

    • Thanks, Shiva! I added that book to my amazing wish list. Sounds great! YOU are full of energy Shiva 🙂

  4. I used to compare myself to others when I was in grade school, but I am happy to report I RARELY if EVER do that anymore. I am confident in myself and own my flaws! 😉

    • YAY! Good for you, GiGi!!! I am hoping to get to the point where I RARELY compare myself to others too!!! Baby steps!! 🙂

  5. Well I loved your ramble 🙂 (and doesn’t it feel better to write it out?) Good for you for realizing this and taking a step back to assess what is going on – and come out with such an awesome mindset! I think it is totally normal/natural to feel this way but it’s how we deal with it that matters. And you seem to be dealing with it amazingly. Keep being you – we love reading!

    • It feels SO much better to write it out 🙂 At least it’s great to know I’m not the ONLY girl who feels this way, and I am so thankful I was able to realize how I was feeling and change my mindset. Thanks for being there to listen, Amy!

    • YES! I think it’s a huge step to even realize that we are in the “trap” in the first place.

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