#2 Normal voices
"A great laugh about a mistake is better than beating yourself up and trying to make no mistakes at all"
Hi friends!
Normal voices #2 is a reality! It is quite a long issue which I hope you will enjoy. Don’t hold back with any comments and interactions on the post.
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Who are you?
I am not supposed to say that right?
Hahah! You can answer anything you want and what is your correct answer to “Who are you”?
Woman, enjoyer of life, sports instructor
Let’s unravel: woman
Although in our environment I am afraid of saying the “wrong thing”, I would say I am very feminine in the way I act and dress.
What does being feminine mean to you?
It is mainly about taking care: taking care of others and taking care of myself. Taking care of others by listening and trying to understand them, perhaps even trying to help where I can. Taking care of myself perhaps in a slightly more “vain” way of pampering myself. Emotionally I can sometimes learn how to take care of myself better.
What is something you have struggled with emotionally?
Letting go of unrealistic expectations, which solely I place on myself.
Which is interesting as also being an “enjoyer of life”. First of all, how does being an “enjoyer of life” manifest itself for you?
For me, this means spending time with friends and family and enjoying great food and drinks. Dinner experiences can do that somehow: the ability to enjoy something together lets’s you open up and share a common enjoyment. It’s one of the few constants in life: great feasts is where bonds are made.
Are you a cook yourself?
No! But luckily my love is and I enjoy every part of it.
Is this also why you are a sports instructor?
No, definitely not and also always try to break this idea with my clients. We should work out because it makes us feel good, and feeling good is different for everyone. Fact is, that moving your body is a great stimulus for your overall wellbeing. Besides the released endorphines, it is a routine, a push and reward, and let’s the “blood flow”. I really hope that we can let go of the idea that we only need sports to let our body look a certain type of way.
Do you think this is enhanced by media?
Yes definitely, both traditional media and social media focus on bodies so much. The topic of how anyone looks is constantly prevalent.
It feels like showing different body types is becoming more normal in media. Do you think that is a good development?
Yes and no. Yes because it releasing some pressure of the current beauty ideal of thinness. No because it is still about the way bodies look, and probably will be turned into the next beauty ideal. I just wish we could stop talking about bodies because it actually is such a boring subject.
What do you do when you are bored?
Frantically checking my phone 20 times per minute.
Would you say smartphones are an addiction?
Yes!! We are all addicts in the smartphone universe.
How come?
Besides the scientific evidence of the “reward feelings” we get from Smartphone usage, the way to manage smartphones is simply so easy! The continuously improving convenience makes it almost a part of our own body.
What was the biggest reward you ever received (not related to smartphones)?
When one of my clients bought me a Christmas gift for the first time. It is really special when someone goes out of their way to let you know they appreciate you. The first time this happened I was flabbergasted, I mean they already paid me why would they give me something else without expecting a return?
Why would you?
Showing someone you think of them and care about them is such a good feeling! Actually, surprising someone with an unexpected gift is one of the best feelings there is. Such a gift does not have to be material, even just giving a call to show someone he/she is in your mind can make a big difference.
Any good intentions?
Continuing to enjoy life in my way, and perhaps having some more unexpected guests at our table.
We never got back to the second part of the question about “letting go of unrealistic expectations” vs. being an “enjoyer of life”. Don’t these clash?
Yes they do. And working through my own insecurities and standard of needing everything to be perfect, I slowly learned that a great laugh about a mistake is better than beating yourself up and trying to make no mistakes at all.