So I’ve been in a bit of a personal blogging rut and I realized a connection this morning. I haven’t been working out too much lately. I tend to do a lot of my good deep thinking on a run, which generates my motivation to blog. So guess what I did this morning? I went on a run, hence this blog as a result!

I was inspired to run with a bit of healthy competition from my husband. We both have a history of having great stints with being dedicated to working out and then low slumps of no motivation. We were in a low slump until yesterday. He came across a Nike gps iphone app that tracks your runs. It also allows you to invite someone to a competition where the website will track your progress against each other. Yesterday I got an invite to a competition to run as many miles as I can in 30 days AND I saw he had already started yesterday! My competitive instincts kicked in and I am out of my slump.
As I was running this morning and listening to music, I was excited to see that the app has an option to pick a power song that you can have play at the moments you are worn down, struggling and want to give up. Typically my power song is “Stronger” by Kanye West, but today I picked a different one by Eminem called “Lose Yourself”. This part of the song really struck me today:
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo”
This phrase impacted me today as I was thinking about why I hadn’t treated myself to a good run the last 2 months. I feel SO good when I run, so why don’t I invest in my self care in this way more. I work a lot with people who struggle with body image and food addiction and I often hear them say similar things in session. The above quote knocked me upside my head to say “Teri this is your ONE body. It’s all you’ve got. Don’t miss your chance to do this. Own it…it’s your body. So treat it with care. It deserves this moment right now to feel this good.” I’ve found myself saying things similar to this to my clients, but today it really applied to me.
So thank you to my husband for inspiring me to care for myself in this way and to Eminem for these words that motivated me. Let the competition begin… I’m up now- but it’s only day 2!

Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW

Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope          Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual          counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does   family        counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling.    Imagine    Hope     serves the Indianapolis area, including the   surrounding  areas   of   Carmel,   Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville,   and Westfield.