Hi. I’m Meredith. And I’m a Glow-Getter.
This doesn’t mean I ride a unicorn and sneeze confetti. It means I’m dedicated to the pursuit of self-growth and to living a healthy, fulfilling life.
And I’m a better mom for it.
If you’ve experienced setbacks or circumstances that have left you in mental and physical shambles, I can relate.
I’ve been left, divorced, lost my home, filed bankruptcy, and became a single mom. In short, I’ve watched my life be dismantled. But I can honestly say I’m now living my happiest, healthiest life because…
I chose to let it happen FOR me, not TO me.
See, you glow differently when you shift your perspective.
So, here are my tips to achieve that glow:
Guard what and whom you allow in your life
Not everyone deserves a seat at your table, and maybe you should stop serving meals to people who never should’ve been invited to the cookout. Manipulation? Won’t be tolerated. Lack of effort in a relationship? Not accepted. Flaky friends? They will lose access. Disrespect? It will be addressed. Sister, it’s time to be selective, unapologetic and discerning for the wellbeing of you and your family. If people are sucking the life out of you, stop giving them the straw.
Stop blaming others and take accountability
If, like me, you ended up on a path you didn’t see yourself traveling, it may be easy to blame the other person(s) who changed your course. However, while you can’t control the situation, you can control how you respond to it. Remember, you are responsible for your own toxic behavior. Read that twice.
Prioritize your health
You cannot continually treat your body like trash and expect to thrive. (Hey, I didn’t make the rules.) Maybe you can’t go to the gym. But you CAN push the kids in the stroller or do a 10-minute workout from home. Maybe you can’t afford healthy food. But you CAN count your calories. You CAN lay off the alcohol. You CAN drink more water and cut out soda. To think otherwise is subscribing to a limited set of beliefs. Glowing means being honest with yourself and eliminating excuses.
Heal
If you don’t heal from those who hurt you, you’ll bleed on those who didn’t cut you.
Identify destructive patterns of behavior and change them. See a therapist. Talk to a pastor. Regularly meet with your friends for coffee. Do whatever it takes to work through any residual pain, trauma or turbulent thoughts. No really. Do the work! Be alone. Don’t rush into relationships. Create boundaries. Healing doesn’t mean erasing the pain. It means you respond to it differently.
The great thing about glow sticks is they have to be broken to shine.
So if you’ve reached a breaking point, just remember a burst of light will soon spring forth…but not until you shake up old thoughts and habits that are holding you back from the radiant life you deserve.
You are worth the work.
Always on the glow,
Meredith
