“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.. —Unknown If we are waiting until we are at the “perfect weight”, the “perfect size” or the “perfect fitness level” to be happy, our experience will be similar to that of trying to arrive at an oasis in the middle of a desert. We think we see it in the distance but the more we travel the more it eludes us. The problem isn’t with us–our body weight, size or shape–the problem is with our perception of ourselves. Until we learn to love ourselves for who we are right now and not what we think we should look like, we will continue on the emotional roller coaster that compromises our happiness. Our self worth is not (repeat, IS NOT) found on the scale, nor should the scale determine our happiness for the day. When asked at the scale “How are you today?”, our favorite response is “I’ll tell you in after I see what the scale says!”. Although we are kidding on the outside many, many times, at a deeper level, there is truth to that response. At some point in this journey we must stand up to the negative self talk and learn to find happiness in the moment. Ironically, when we become happier and more content day to day, it ends up allowing us to make positive choices more easily and the change we want begin to become reality smoothly. The difference is we are not forcing it and insisting it happen on our time line. Healthy behaviors are not a destination or a means to an end they are a way of life. Every morning is a new start and no matter how well we did yesterday (or how not-so-good) today is a fresh start. Let’s work diligently on finding happiness in what we already have today through gratitude and “look beyond the imperfections” as the quote states. Let’s joyfully make the best choices we can for our health and shut out any inner messages of criticism or thoughts of “can’t”. To borrow one of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s often used quotes: “”There is no way to happiness; Happiness IS the way.”