Thriving in an Unhealthy Society
A Journey of Healthy Choices and Personal Growth
Hello all!
Hope you are doing well! This week in Lisbon, we are enjoying a shorter week, having celebrated Portugal Day yesterday and looking forward to the Santos Populares local holiday on Thursday.
Today, I want to reflect on a topic that's been pivotal in my personal development: overcoming beliefs and celebrating progress. This past year has been incredibly challenging. I would describe it as a massive wave in my journey towards gaining awareness, achieving clarity of thought, and learning about myself. Navigating this progress alongside daily challenges at work has illuminated the critical importance of maintaining a work-life balance.
On my personal development journey, I've been deeply focused on what I feed my mind, what I feed my body, and the environments I immerse myself in. Here are some highlights and insights from this journey:
Mindful Consumption: Paying attention to what I feed my mind, whether it's the books I read, the media I consume, or the conversations I engage in. This has significantly impacted my mental clarity and overall outlook on life.
Healthy Eating: Making conscious food choices, even when surrounded by less healthy options, especially during social gatherings and work events. Prioritizing my health by sticking to nutritious foods has been challenging but rewarding.
Choosing Environments: Being selective about the environments I spend my time in. Surrounding myself with positive, like-minded individuals has been crucial in maintaining my motivation and energy levels.
Balancing Work and Life: Realizing the importance of setting boundaries to ensure a healthy work-life balance. This has helped me manage stress and maintain my well-being.
This week, we are preparing for a visit from upper management, and the focus has been on shared meals, dinners, and constant meetings. Honestly, I'm already feeling exhausted just thinking about it. The real struggle for me lies in the non-work-related conversations and the food choices my peers make during these overwhelming gatherings. Staying healthy and making healthy choices is my priority.
When someone tells me, "It's just a few days," it feels like a blow because it signifies a lack of respect for my boundaries. The battle to maintain healthy habits is real, and it's draining when society often labels us as outliers for our choices. Yes, we are outliers, but from my perspective, it's in a healthy, long-term way. I believe that while it might take thousands of years to shift societal mindsets, for me, this journey of change and maintaining boundaries is essential, even if it drains my energy at times.
Work gatherings are particularly overwhelming because, as I’ve shared in previous newsletters, I’m not currently in my dream job. This adds another layer of challenge to these events, making it even more important for me to stay true to my values and priorities.
Final Thought: Overcoming old beliefs and celebrating progress go hand in hand. Today, I can see that I have progressed significantly. The old Sofia would not have been so strong and focused on following her dreams. Recognizing this growth is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to our values. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and continue striving for the best version of yourself.
Thanks for being my confidantes for today!
With warm regards,
Thank you for taking the time to read and, hopefully, to contribute your thoughts. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions!
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