Fellow health counselors, life coaches, doctors and other health advocates, I just confessed to the world
that sometimes I feel like a health hypocrite.
Of course, I try to walk my talk, but as this post described, lately, I’ve been working too hard, becoming sleep deprived because I’m taking on way too much, and neglecting to have a life in balance. Surprise, surprise, I’m now sick. Frankly, it’s my own d*&% fault.
Privately,
over the years, many of you fellow health counselors, life coaches and doctors have shared how you, too, feel like you’re not always
walking your talk. I invite you to ‘fess up, too.
So health experts,
do you also feel sometimes that you’re not who you claim to be? This
inquiring mind wants to know what you think.
Please note that I may include your comments in an upcoming story for my blog at the Huffington Post and Psychology Today, as well as a piece for another site.
I look forward to hearing your comments. Please share your quotes here on this Sugar Shock Blog and on Facebook. Thank you in advance.
10 thoughts on “Health Experts & Life Coaches: Do You Feel Like a Hypocrite, Too?”
Yes! I’m a total hypocrite sometimes but it’s ok! There’s no such thing as perfect… Or, at least I don’t think so.
I usually walk the talk and attempt to live life, eat, breathe, exercise as I would encourage others.
But…
The other day I was on my way to a Health Counseling Appointment and realized that I didn’t leave enough time to eat! But, I needed to eat! I made myself a quick sandwich – Ezekial cinnamon raison English muffin, Whole Foods Freshly Ground Almond Butter and Le Pain Quotidein Raspberry jam (made with agave). Rather than taking the time to eat, sitting down, chewing mindfully and swallowing with a relaxed mind, I found myself standing, shoving it my mouth!
As soon as I realized what i was doing and remembered that i was on my way to counsel a person to not do exactly that…I sat down, took a deep breath, chewed my food and enjoyed what i was eating.
Sometimes it takes just a second to switch your habit and turn it into a healthy one. Just remember..it’s ok not to be perfect…just as long as we’re conscious of each action and remember “progress not perfection”.
Be Well,
Arielle
http://www.bewellwitharielle.com
Note from Connie: Thanks so much for sharing! Your story is quite telling and entertaining! Yes, progress, not perfection! By the way, might I share with you what I’ve found out about agave?
This is so true. I think many people forget about self-care when they do service work. Mostly driven by the desire to succeed in the external world, they push themselves beyond their limits, get hard on themselves too easily and feel like a failure if they haven’t reached certain goals in their business. The best thing you can do when you get there is ask yourself, “Where are you going?” There is nothing but here and now. No matter what you attain on the material level will pale in comparison to the inner peace you can experience in the moment. There is a delicious part in every step of the way to success and the beginning of the journey is the most exciting, uncertain and daring. This is the time when you are closest to the rawness and richness of life. Just doing what you love has success in it already — the best-seller, the fame and fortune are secondary.
Okay, I admit it. I am a wellness and weight loss coach and there are times I feel like a hypocrite. My sweet tooth sometimes gets the best of me and I find myself spoon deep in a pint of ice cream. Fortunately, it happens much less frequently than it used to. I used to let it shake my confidence, but know I realize I’m just being human. This isn’t to let myself off the hook too easily, but to have a little compassion for myself. I can now discern which is the correct response to my actions.
WOW THANK YOU FOR STIRRING UP THE LAST BIT OF CONFIDENCE AND TRUST WE HAD FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD….WHATS THE POINT OF A DEGREE ANYMORE…?
THERE IS NO PROFESSIONALISM ANYMORE. SOMETIMES THERES A REASON WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP THE “FACE” OF PROFESSIONALISM. WE IN THE WORLD JUST DONT NEED TO KNOW EEEEVRYTHING! I GUESS WE SHOULD JUST TELL SARA AND TOMMY THERE IS NO REAL SANTA CLAUSE EITHER HUH?
I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELVES NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU ARE FRAUDULENT AND THAT YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM ARE NONE THE LESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I HOPE AT LEAST YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS POSTING. NOW THAT YOU’VE GOTTEN IT ALL OFF YOUR CHEST, I HOPE YOU CAN BREATH BETTER AND CATCH SOME BETTER MUCH DESERVED SLEEP
Arielle, Debra, Michelle and Stef, thank you for your thoughtful comments and insights.
By the way, Stef, I appreciate your feedback about my “ridiculous” post. I’m sorry if I contributed to your losing confidence in my and others’ professionalism. I am still a professional, but I am human and therrefore cannot be perfect. That’s what this post was about — I was owning up to my skimping on sleep in order to work overtime to bring readers, fans and friends some helpful holiday tips, programs and gifts.
Also, I wrote this post, because this is one of people’s worst habits — being sleep deprived — and I thought many would relate. And it is a bad habit that I’m now committed to conquering.
PLEASE note, however, that I MOSTLY walk my talk. I have been off sugar or refined carbs almost 100 % since 1998. (And that’s I’m known as the “Sugar Liberator.”) What’s more, I do NOT use caffeine, nicotine or artificial sweeteners. For many, those are huge accomplishments. But admittedly, I still need to work on the bedtime thing.
Anyhow, thank you for your kind words about getting much-deserved sleep. Going back to bed now to get over this cold and I’m taking lots of supplements and herbs to help heal me. Have a great day.
Sometimes I don’t get enough sleep – see my post here: http://www.liveadeliciouslife.com/blog/2009/12/how-to-avoid-insomnia/
So, I take better care of myself the next day. What else can I do? I’m still healthier than most people I know. I eat better than 95% of the people I know. And I rarely get sick. I think if I’m “perfect” all of the time, I’m not human – and clients can’t relate to me. The fact is, where I am is perfectly Ok. I keep learning more, getting healthier, and helping others. That’s what matters. Have more fun, enjoy life and get healthy bite by bite. http://www.liveadeliciouslife.com
Everyone of us is a human and we do have our weak moments. As long as they are not often and we show restraint most of the time, I think it is okay.
I’m pretty consistent, but not in all aspects of my life!
I’m very strict with what I eat and I maintain my fitness regime each week.
My main problem (which has been stated) is being overworked and not sleeping enough (my days and weeks seem to never end).
When I don’t get enough sleep I have no energy and worst I have no energy to eat (or prepare my meals) either. I end up losing weight and losing muscle mass (which I don’t like).
Also the amount of work has cut into my vacation time which means that I’m not taking as much time off as I should.
I’d love to be more consistent with all areas of my health and this can only happen when I make it a priority. Luckily, I’ve had such issues with lack of sleep from July 2009 to October 2009 that I decided that for 2010, I’m off loading a lot of things that are not a priority AND to hire more virtual help to allow myself more room to breathe.
I’ve already ruthlessly cutting out things once I’ve asked myself the question “is this really a priority”. It’s not perfect, but I’m changing my way of thinking slowly, but surely.
I remember once rushing to a meeting and someone I know looked at me and asked “when do you find time to breathe?”. I was startled by the question and frankly really didn’t know when I found time to breathe and vowed to make 2010 the year I make a lot more time to breathe.
So to answer your question Connie, indeed, in some cases, I do feel like I’m not totally true to my message because healthy eating and adopting a healthy lifestyle also includes proper sleep, reduced stress, time for vacation and loads of fun time!
Krizia
http://www.eatsmartagesmart.com/
James Duke once said, “Your choice of foods can be intelligent or junk, and its gonna have some consequences for you.” As an herbalist and health professional, for me it’s about being aware of those consequences and keeping those choices in balance. It’s food and lifestyle, not religion. Setting ourselves up as purists who never eat a french fry or drink a latte sets an unrealistic standard for people who seek our advice in their attempt to get a grip on their life choices.
I would challenge any professional in any arena to be perfect by society’s standards. “Perfection” is a misnomer because I personally think we are all perfect. We are all perfect where we are and as we are and doing what we are doing. There is no other ‘us’ because the only ‘me’ that can be me is me. 🙂
On another note, walking the talk means practicing what we preach. It doesn’t mean constant, consistent, never-ending ‘seeming’ success. It means seeing success, even in our failures (if you want to see them as failures).
One coach to another: My life isn’t perfect. I still get headaches sometimes. My kids sometimes misbehave. My relationships hit those same bumps as anyone else’s do and they all require my attention.
The difference is what my training has given me in the form of tools to utilize in these every-day, everyone-has-them situations.
A hypocrite would not have posted this article.
A hypocrite would have posted a blog that told the world how great their life is when, in fact, it carries all the same… OPPORTUNITIES as everyone else’s.
That’s my take. 🙂
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