“No valid plan is worth pursuing if there is a lack of confidence and love for oneself.” - Avtar

In my three decades in the health and fitness field and my ten years as a Wellness Director at the world renown Resort/Spa, Miraval, I have noticed that almost everyone I worked with, from top celebrities, business moguls, politicians, to regular folks, all had one thing in common; they all had what I call “a lose wire”. An issue with self! Almost everyone of them tried to fix their “self” issue, which is best known as “denial”, by listening to someone else telling them what to do rather than listening to their own feelings, their own inner voice, the voice that kept calling for years, the voice that asked them to accept and love themselves the way they were first in order to make a meaningful and long lasting change. Almost every one of them had at one point or another used gimmicks, fad diets or exercise programs that promised them a body that took years to build, to no avail; they all failed!

I believe that change stems from the ability to love oneself in order to start rebuilding the things we may feel are not working the way we want. Unfortunate events such as divorce, loss of job, financial struggles, can all lead to chaos via extreme stress and weight gain not to mention a slew of other potential health issues. Resentment and bitterness sets in when one focuses on what one should of done or been. Negative thinking brings negative feelings, negative vibes that attracts more of the same.

That’s why one must have faith and love and use them as shields against life’s everyday challenges. You see, love is not something you search for or something you learn; love is your natural state of being. The problem is that we have learned to separate our feelings and our emotions from who we truly are. We stopped believing in the universal energy that keeps feeding our spirits and helps us remain sane in a society that keeps demanding that we stay at the top of this game called “life”. As my dear friend John Assaraf said to me once, “life is like a professional sport, play it as a pro, not as an amateur, learn all the rules and follow them!”

To you I say, “Keep moving and don’t look back!”

This article or post is not intended to provide individual advice, which should be obtained directly from your health care professional

Author's Bio: 

Avtar, formerly known as Nordine Zouareg, is highly regarded as an internationally acclaimed speaker, motivational coach and #1 Best Selling Author in the field of mind-body health, spirituality and personal empowerment. Avtar has almost three decades of experience traveling the globe and working directly with clients to identify and change the negative patterns that are preventing them from attaining optimum health and wellness. His impressive collection of international titles, awards and recognition are a direct reflection of his ability to overcome immense personal struggles and emerge with great success.

In addition to his deep understanding of how the mind works to influence the body and his beliefs in the benefits of balancing the body, mind and spirit, Nordine is the author of the bestselling book, MIND OVER BODY: The Key To Lasting Weight Loss Is All In Your Head! He also holds a Master's Degree in Physical Education, several International Coaching Certifications, and he speaks five languages. Avtar's personal passions are his two children, his spirituality, exercise, reading, cooking, travel, and helping people around the world understand how to incorporate the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of being to create a successfully balanced and fulfilling life.