Heidi Rae Coaching - I Love & Accept You

Babes!

I challenge you to repeat this mantra every single day in regards to YOURSELF. Yes, that's right... I want you to look your amazing self in the mirror EVERY single day and repeat OUT LOUD: "I love and accept you!"

Rules: You cannot say, "But," or "Except for." You cannot even think those things in your head, Babes! If those thoughts creep in, STOP. And do it again. "I love and accept you!" EXACTLY as you are.

THEN... yup, there is always more because awesome stuff is awesome in bulk!

Keep that mantra in your back pocket at all times to use with others. I want to tell you a story that I am not proud of, but that illustrates this mantra and the importance of it:

There is a man at my gym who I STRUGGLE with. He is a bit older than me. He is very social, always going up to people of all ages and all genders. He gets very close to people's faces and is very physical affectionate with all people (of all ages and all genders). He walks around, interrupting people's workouts. I watch him do this! It must be a true story because I witness it! He hugs women in an inappropriate manner! I witness it daily, Babes, I am daily SO bothered by his clear and evident behavior! I watch him. I listen to his conversations. I judge him daily because it's JUST NOT RIGHT. Note: it was clear that the people who I just knew he was bothering were not telling him to stop.

Babes, my behavior went on for weeks... possibly even months. I spoke with the gym management and voiced my concerns. Here is what I learned: he was in a car accident with four or five of his closest friends when he was in high school. All of his friends were killed in the accident and he suffered irreversible brain trauma. He lives in assisted living and loves the gym. He has been told multiple times by gym management that his behavior must be appropriate, but often forgets those conversations the next day. And, AGAIN... the people who he "bothers" at the gym have every right and ability to tell him to go away, but they don't.

It seems, Babes, that this really only bothers ME.

I immediately began repeating this mantra in my head as soon as I'd seem him at the gym. "I love and accept you ___."

I still do this, to this day, every time I see him. It does a few things:

1. It reminds me to stay out of his business.

2. It reminds me that to mind my own dang business.

3. It reminds me to stay in my true self.

4. It puts me back into a state of present.

I then end up repeating the same thing to myself, without judgement, without anger that I'm still learning... with grace. "I love and accept you, Heidi." I leave out the, "But you're a dumbass for still judging him." I leave out the, "What is wrong with you, Heidi?!" I leave it at, "I love and accept you, Heidi." Then I continue my treadmill walking IN THE PRESENT.