"The first step in acknowledging and accessing your worth, value, and sense of fulfillment, is to take an honest personal assessment. Set aside some quiet time where you can have privacy and think. Take your journal, notebook or diary and a pen, and ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I happy?
• What gives me joy?
• What contributions do I make?
• Do I feel acknowledged for the contributions I make?
• Are my relationships fulfilling?
• Do I nurture and enjoy my relationships?
• Am I achieving goals that I set for myself?
• Do my activities and lifestyle contribute to my sense of worth and well-being?
• Do I take personal responsibility for my actions?
• Does something or someone else dictate how I should feel or act?

You may be reassured by the answers you give, or you may find that you need to focus more on certain areas in your life. Whatever the responses you have to the questions above, reflect on them. What do they mean for you? How will you take ownership of your feelings, accomplishments and life so that you can progress and grow? This series focuses on being your best self."

Those are some heavy questions, at least to me! At first glance, I am not doing that great so I know I have lots to work on. I will be taking some time in the near future to really get "into this with myself"! How about you? At first glance, does this scare you? Are you feeling good that you are doing pretty well? What are your next steps based on the questions above? I don't even know how to answer some of these questions right now!!!
 
For those that want more about this, check out this post from Feed Me I'm Cranky. She talks to this & how her weight loss made others look at her differently. She has a check list of things about herself that she is proud of & they don't even have to do with all the weight she lost! Do you have a list? Will you make one? I think I best get to it since mine are more fitness related although I am proud of being a good wife, a long marriage (almost 26 years), 3 great step children (nothing to do with me though!), at least trying to do something I want to do rather than what I should do (still working on that and it is a battle!).

OK, I also want to throw in an exercise option too!!!! The Reverse Woodchop. This can be done at home, at the gym, in the park DURING COMMERCIALS, while you are cooking and more! Give it a try! It works the quadriceps, glutes, shoulders & more!!!! 

Set Up: Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart and hold a medicine ball with both hands. Lift the ball above your left shoulder as you twist your torso towards the left. Let your head follow your body. Action: Lower the medicine ball across your torso toward your right knee, keeping your arms extended as you squat down, activating your leg and glute muscles. Repeat. Complete the set (8 to 10 repetitions), then switch sides. Do three complete sets. As always, if you don't have a medicine ball, use a dumbbell, water bottle, bag of flour or sugar, water jug or whatever you have around that simulates the weight right for you.