Most “get healthy” plans start with a virtuous proclamation. It may sound something like:

“I’m never, ever, ever, ever going to eat sugar again.”
“I’m going to hit spin class every day – without fail!”
“I’ve completely sworn off my morning latte… forever.”

And, inevitably these thoughts backfire. Sometimes it takes months, weeks or even mere days to break your own promise.

The reason?

These statements are black and white. And healthy living is never black and white. It has many, many shades of grey.

Setting these extreme standards for your healthy lifestyle almost guarantees an epic failure, leaving you riddled with guilt and shame because you “cheated,” by not sticking with your well-meaning intentions.

Here’s what I know:

You can be healthy and at peace by softening your standards. (tweet this!)

This isn’t giving in or giving up.

It’s being realistic about what you can achieve, right away.

It’s silencing your inner critic, because you’re not adhering to a 100% perfect way of living.

It’s feeling better about your choices, most of the time.

And, it’s creating a benchmark to appreciate your accomplishments and pave the way for success. Every single step counts.

“I avoided the office candy jar for the third time in a row? Bravo!”
“I woke up early to pound the pavement twice this week? Yes!”
“I started the day with hot water and lemon? Feeling good.”

Relish in the “grey” and take a moment to recognize your victories. You’ll be inspired to move forward and make consistently better choices, almost effortlessly.

Added bonus? There’s no room for guilt in this scenario.

TAKE ACTION: Let’s celebrate together. Share one small step you were proud to accomplish this week in the comments below. I’ll be cheering you along the way!