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 Rather than criticize and judge yourself according to your actions, try to transform statements to be more accepting, compassionate, and solutions focused
Criticism and judgment can keep us stuck in the cycle because it builds upon the negative emotions we are feeling instead of taking the time to allow ourselves to feel, understand, and move forward from them It is MUCH easier to just decide that your actions make you x, y, or z rather than seeing that your actions are choices, responses, reactions, or links to thoughts, circumstance, and both internal and external factors While it may not seem worth it to take the time to evaluate what happened, it is going to be worthwhile for interrupting the negative thinking cycle that can lead to behavior spirals When clients come to me judging themselves and in an intense state of 'this is just who I am and I will never change and I am doomed', I try to take a compassionate approach to support them in seeing/experiencing a healthier way of looking at it so that change can be prioritized over shame or submission to a definition of yourself that is only based in circumstantial truth rather than the whole truth Extreme ways of thinking will always be easier because it is SO clear cut. BUT it is also limiting for this reason By taking the time to validate, accept, and understand you are then equipped to move forward with a transformed outlook These are only 3 examples but I would be happy to help you in rewriting a current story you may be stuck in Feel free to DM me it or comment below and we can work on it together It is my passion to help people who are pursuing their fitness and competition goals to see that there is power in the commitment to #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY that will allow you to sustain your results with peace of mind
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 It is hard to believe there was a time when I…
➡️forced myself to exercise after every morsel of food I consumed ➡️felt I had to hide my body in shame of not fulfilling the expectations I thought others had for/of me ➡️was so depressed, anxious, questioning life ➡️wouldn’t even want to carry other people’s food or left overs in fear of someone seeing me with something other than a “clean bro diet” meal (this one’s always hard to admit) ➡️felt I wasn’t worthy of the title “trainer” or “competitor” or “gym rat” without deep lines, conditioning, & muscles popping all the time ➡️couldn’t stand up for my needs, wants, desires, or boundaries It is sad to think I was so confined to the dark corners of my mind despite having so much to be happy for I’d be killing it in different areas of life only to be haunted by some of these negative thoughts or darker parts of my mind I was in a constant battle with myself which led to constant battles with my body, food, & my identity I knew if I didn’t change something then nothing I did would truly matter for me because the purpose & intention was not serving me I’ve been through many ups & downs throughout my life. I believe however that I have been highly favored & blessed & saved from darkness that otherwise could’ve taken me down Using personal development, psychology, mindfulness, counseling tools, & awareness to apply lessons learned, I’ve been able to consistently challenge negativity, overcome disordered behaviors & thoughts, & give myself a much better perspective to enjoy life from How rewarding, freeing, & EMPOWERING to know that I was able to change darkness that I never thought I’d be able to escape from & make peace with MYSELF, my body, food, & my goals & then help 1000s of others globally do the same🥹 Doing the work to #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY changed my life & it has been my mission & purpose since 2015 to help others do the same I don’t want others to go through what I did the hard way, I want to help guide you to the solutions you need with as much ease as possible You don’t have to do it alone or learn the hard way❤️
I’ve been sitting on these words for awhile...
I’ve done 13 shows & have yet to achieve my tangible ‘title’ goals Looking at every photo from every show, I can find a flaw, an area for improvement, a clear reason why I’m not where I want to be This isn’t as bad as it may sound. It’s reality It inspires me to be better. At times, I think, ‘what the heck was I thinking?!’ or ‘I knew better than to put that on stage or not double check if my hair was properly brushed and placed or my tan was dark enough’... sometimes the neurotic tendency to fixate on what needs improvement can breed negative emotions It frustrates me that I haven’t brought something better each time I let some things get the better of me like feeling I had to be loyal to a coach & doing it because they wanted me on stage, not practicing posing with extensions in to see how it would feel on stage, & even things like having a makeup artist not finish my face or notice it until too late, & of course the obvious of a competitive physique I don’t regret any aspect of my journey, but sometimes I think, ‘why has it taken me 13 shows to learn!?’ That’s a hurtful & not so compassionate voice inside me When I step back & utilize wise mind, I can be kind & recognize EVERY step on stage will bring a lesson. Even the best want to be better, it’s inside of us as competitors hunger for more I haven’t achieved all I want yet, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t achieved. I’m grateful for every lesson, even painful ones because they’ve brought me to where I am now; confident in my future & at peace with my timeline I’m going to be more discerning & strategic with the tools, support, & mindset to support my pursuit My last show was a culmination of lessons & I left proud. Winning can look like that too A season of pursuit is a rewarding one Pursuing something = becoming the version of you who’s ready to receive blessings you seek Finding peace, joy, & excitement in it all is my mental resting place When I get caught up in negatives of self-criticism or judgment or ‘why am I not here yet’ I lose sight of what really fulfills me in this journey He is preparing us for something beyond our wildest dreams  So often I hear people say that if people don't support you in your journey then you should just cut them out of your life and find new friends
While I do believe our true friends and unconditionally loving family will support us, sometimes values, beliefs, desires, and lifestyles just don't align anymore or they may struggle with the way it changes you While you may end up distancing yourself or setting a firm boundary about their presence in your life, I don't believe it is the most considerate or compassionate approach to relationships that matter to you Learning to deal with change, conflict, and desires within relational contexts is key for long term connections It won't always be perfect communication or understanding but facing the difficulties is much more beneficial to growth than avoiding them (although that would be so much easier in the moment!) By taking the time to help others understand your journey & how to support you, you foster a deeper connection & more reliable support network which is MUCH MORE conducive to success than cutting people off it (we may exist in an individualistic society/culture but we are meant to thrive with others, we are a social species!) We want to have positive connections, support, and community in the pursuit of our goals and we especially want it from our loved ones! Cutting people off without taking the time to consider where they might be coming from is very unfair Imagine if they changed something in their life for the better or worse, you would have a reaction to it too, right? If they are someone you want to keep in your circle, then this graphic could support your process before making a decision like cutting them off I led a workshop for a few teams as well as my own clients and members on effective communication strategies and these were some of the common themes which came out of it Which by the way, if you want access to that workshop you can dm me for it and I am happy to provide you the link to enroll for access to it and hundreds of other resources and workshops http://www.celestial.fit/links.html If any of these are relatable for you, I would love to hear your thoughts!😍 #buildmorethanjustabody  On the surface, you might believe you have a problem with how your body looks or is responding
But if you peel back the layers a bit more, you may find that it’s not your body image that’s causing issues… it’s the ideals, beliefs, identity, and standards you have chosen to hold yourself to that are acting as harsh critics of where you are rather than fervent advocates of the process you’re committing to every day When the voices of doubt or criticism fill my mind, I ask myself these questions: 1) Would you rather feed into critical voices or transform them and remember that they are there because you have CHOSEN an ideal to hold yourself to? 2) Are these thoughts coming from a part of you that is connected to your core values and internal motivators or is it coming from something extrinsic or based on someone or something else’s portrayal of this lifestyle or sport or criteria? 3) What would help me more easily believe the opposite of what these voices are saying? What parts of what these voices are saying might actually have truth to them that could empower my growth? By spending more time embracing the process and enjoying each step I have started to see my body differently She’s no longer a representation of what is not yet but rather a symbol of commitment, dedication, resilience… Same body, same reflection but my shift in perception is what allows me to see positives Do you struggle with body image? As a competitor it’s fairly normal to expect given we literally compete in a sport where our body is judged But that doesn’t mean we have to be judgmental You can use the neurotic tendency to fixate on the details to your ADVANTAGE or it’ll become your downfall & hold you back from taking any action at all Would love to hear your experiences or have the opportunity to support you if you’re struggling Feel free to comment below or DM me @celestial_fit 💜💜 . #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY  You are powerful beyond measure and deserve to be treated with respect, valued for all that you are just by being you In addition to the incredibleness that you bring to the table
You are worthy of peace of mind, love, devotion, freedom, and autonomy Your power, intuition, nurturing nature, strength, intelligence, and confidence is to be celebrated; not ridiculed, taken advantage of, or disrespected or betrayed When you look beyond the incredible body that you have been blessed with, and acknowledge the soul which it carries that is unique to you, I hope you’ll feel the fire to always protect yourself & your energy We are always being told who to be, how to be, what to do but the resistance we feel to conformity or justification for others or going against ourselves is all the insight we need You show up positively and powerfully with love in your heart, kindness radiating from your soul, and innate knowledge; none of which should be forgotten, dismissed, devalued, or treated as disposable You deserve to be cherished, loved, and treated with respect. You were born into this world as a dream come true, a magic miracle, an incredible blessing and are to be desired, appreciated, supported, and seen While it is a beautiful thing in life to seek and establish care, connection, security, love, trust, etc with others… Provide compassion, care, validation, trust, and adoration to yourself Use compassionate words, acknowledge your resilience, make peace with your past, and accept all the parts of you for even the parts that are hard to understand or look at still contribute to the whole of who you are & not a single person has the exact experiences, thoughts, or life as you—you have to be there for yourself & deserve the devotion of trust & faith in your own self Be true to your word, commitments, & values Follow through for yourself, build trust in yourself, have a secure attachment with yourself Use your discernment and intuition to support your decisions and know that nothing is permanent as everything is always in flow when we detach from the outcome and stay present enough with ourselves to know what is best & as always, #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY  THINGS YOU CAN FOCUS ON IN IMPROVEMENT SEASON TO SUPPORT BODY IMAGE:
➡️ How your body is serving you each day ➡️ What your body feels like on a consistent basis ➡️ Ways your body functions to support your life values and the things or people you care about most ➡️ How you can support the health and longevity of your body ➡️ What your body’s language is when she reacts, responds, behaves to stimuli (of all kind not just physical) ➡️ All your body has been through with you and all you’re preparing her to endure with you ➡️ The ways you are winning and showing up in your life that have nothing to do with your shape ➡️ Testing new variables so in prep you have even more data and insight to work off of ➡️ Relieving stress and demand on the body and how this is benefiting your overall well-being ➡️ Improved functions and support systems of your body ➡️ Energy, strength, effort ➡️ Simple pleasures / little things your body gets to allow you to experience (hand holding, a hug, watching a comedy, feeling music beat in your chest, smell of a flower, a fuzzy blanket) ➡️ This body deserves thanks and praises now because she is building the next champion version of you ➡️ Time is limited and life is unpredictable. You’re always evolving and your body evolves with you so you can experience the ups and downs What are some things you can or do focus on in your improvement season to support your body image? Or which of these will you start doing? PS this This chest pump was brought to you by an AMRAP bench set of 90lbs for 13 reps definitely was my best amrap yet and one thing I’m proud of my body for and which helped me say thank you for the improvement season gains!💪🏻 . #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY
Build yourself upâ¤ï¸ we are beyond capable of even our wildest dreams.
I love every day that I live because it’s a new opportunity. In running my own business I’ve learned nothing is promised or guaranteed but showing up every day for a single mission and purpose is fulfilling. As an athlete I’ve learned that the best part of competing is the never ending list of ways to improve and be better—to know even at your best you can still strive for more because each best is setting you up for your next. And as a woman, I’m learning more and more each day and year and passing moment that I truly am beyond worthy of what I want, deserving of what I desire, and capable of committing to what I’m creating. This mantra is one I’ve repeated for years and I will continue to. Whatever your vision is for yourself, trust that even when it’s threatened or something happens to make you question what you want or are worthy of, you can overcome anything and difficulty is not tearing you down but rather building your resilience. While we all might wish in the darkest of times to fast forward to the end and see how it all unfolds, we also all thrive in the light of pursuit and trust and presence in what is now. ​I hope in your pursuit of your dreams and striving for more you also slow down and enjoy what IS (note to self)  I changed my life in so many ways in the last year. I did things for myself that were scary & would change my “norm” but that my soul knew was best for me
I reflected on how much had to shift in me in order to make these shifts in my life I made scary decisions, took leaps of faith, had huge commitments I stuck to, & major moments of really tuning in to my soul & trusting in a higher power that I could make these choices & would be okay Something bodybuilding has taught me which has contributed to this is the inevitability of impermanence (the body is never the same, seasons come & go with expectations, standards…) I’ve come to realize & embrace that nothing is permanent as everything is always evolving in some way. Even energy, which cannot be destroyed, takes on new forms I myself have taken on a new form My life opened up when I decided it was time I honor & value myself in EVERY area I developed a more secure attachment with myself which allowed me to act on the calling to liberate myself from the things which were keeping me stuck in undesirable patterns I faced betrayal, anxiety, confusion, doubt, denial…but felt more prepared to stand up for myself & my needs because: 1- Taking hit after hit in my life with pain & suffering that was unimaginable gave me more endurance & resilience to face difficult realities I lived in 2- I felt comfortable with the idea of letting go because I knew I could support, comfort, & validate myself. Plus, I have a strong support system 3- I consistently live with my values in mind & when they were being deprioritized/ sacrificed due to fears that were coming from other deep rooted beliefs or experiences…I recognized this & ask if I would rather live life as it is & likely continue to feel worse or endure a short sharp & potentially nagging pain that’d ultimately free me once processed 4- I evaluated my needs, desires, & beliefs about myself & I repeated, “I am worthy of what I want & deserve what I desire” so when I wasn’t acting accordingly, it was glaringly obvious The mission is always to #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY ONE decision can change your entire life & provide space to receive all that you truly desire❤️I changed my life in so many ways in the last year. I did things for myself that were scary & would change my “norm” but that my soul knew was best for me  In order to know the whole, you must be willing to understand the parts
The entirety of anything is made up of many somethings Some parts may be easily labeled as bad, good, ugly, shameful, celebratory, inspiring, righteous… I say easily because they are often dismissed or placed on a pedestal or even avoided—all easy things to do because it doesn’t require much reflection or seeking perspective I’ve come to learn from myself, without any singular part (whether it’s an experience, identity, belief, value, or something else…) there would be no way to explain who I am now It’s because of all those pieces coming together that I can do my best to understand myself And when it comes to knowing, loving, accepting, & appreciating others…we owe them the same level of respect we might expect For example, we may assume something of ourselves, question the assumption, & then check in for clarity to not pass judgment before understanding the basis of the assumption When talking with someone else we may assume they like certain things or are a certain way because of how we perceive them…but this doesn’t mean it is reality so curiosity is helpful here I often work with or connect with people who judge parts of themselves so harshly… They want to dismiss aspects of who they are in hopes that they can “get rid of” it But the energy will always be there So rather than trying to deny that there can be many sides to you (or someone else), which often leads to suppression or repression of needs & can trigger the avoidance cycle, we might instead try to foster a relationship with every part of ourself with acceptance that each voice or pattern or response within us is a communicator trying to work with other parts of you to support your entire journey Again, it’s easier to dismiss or label than it is to put it under a microscope only to see even more parts It can be painful, vulnerable, or revealing but you deserve to know the depths of yourself & find comfort in exploring the depths of others knowing you may not like everything you find but it will be so worth it for the love & appreciation of the whole through the acceptance of all parts❤️ #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY |
Celeste Rains-Turk
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Robert Gourley, Danijel J, Neeta Lind, Brian PDX, Stefano Merli, frankieleon, j_lai, Gudlyf, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet, Arya Ziai, SuperFantastic, Ruth and Dave
