VISUALIZE “HAPPY”

PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE tremendously impactful in both positive and negative ways. I don’t know about you, but I grew up knowing quite a few women who kept photographs of themselves at their thinnest posted on their refrigerator. Curious “tell me why” Sagittarius child that I was, I had to ask.

The conversations often started with something along the lines of, “Who’s that lady in the picture?” or “But I thought you hate the beach.”

The women would usually explain that the photo was meant to deter them from eating because they were trying to lose weight and look more like they did in that picture on the fridge. I even had one relative who had a decorative cow with a word bubble coming out of its mouth that said, “Holy cow, you’re eating again?”

As a young kid, I couldn’t wrap my head around why everybody seemed to be on a diet. That changed of course, as I got older and went through the experience of growing up in a culture obsessed with outward appearance where women are (still) trained to view deprivation and restriction as the path to greatness.

I eventually saw that these women were using those photographs as thinspo before #thinspo was a thing, but what I always found interesting was that they never seemed to get to a place where they felt happy with their body, regardless of whether they reached that magic number or clothing size.

Something I started as an experiment with a few clients has since become standard practice for me. Rather than use a picture of yourself where you’re at your ideal weight as a motivator to make healthy food and fitness choices, use a photo where you look—and are—happy. Why? That positive energy can spill over into other areas of your life and can support mind and body wellness.

It might not seem like a huge deal, but seeing yourself happy puts you in that headspace, connecting you to the positive energy you felt when you took the photo, and reminding you of those good feelings. Being more connected with those good vibes on a daily basis helps you stick with habits that help foster overall happiness.

Don’t believe me? Think about how much harder it is to get out of bed and go to the gym on a day you feel awful about yourself than it is on a day you’re feeling upbeat and excited about your life. You don’t have to post it on your fridge, but put your “happy” image someplace you’ll see it every day and let yourself feel that positive energy. It’s a subtle shift, but powerful.