As I looked in the mirror, taking in my nakedness before me, the comfort in my body was slightly marred by the disappointment in self. How had I allowed myself to get back to this place? All of the years of hard work had been erased by intense moments of stress and emotional weakness. The fruit of my labor had transformed into the chips and chocolate of my downfall. I knew in that moment that I could not stay in that place anymore. No excuses; it was time to change.

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There comes a point when body positivity subtly morphs into over-indulgence, and I had been oblivious to that switch. I thought that I was liberating myself from the rigidity of my life, choosing no rules, over strict tracking and disciplinary practices. Turns out, the lack of discipline was actually to my detriment, causing both balance and boundaries to fade away into oblivion. I need structure. Without it, my morals and will crash, and I’m left with nothing to securely ground me in my way. As I write this, I feel a tug on my heart as God sweetly whispers, “The same is true for Me.” Hmm….

Beloved, as we step into this new month of June, let us step forward with zero excuses in our metaphorical purses. Let us stop believing that if we loosen the structure that has grounded and shaped us, that we will be “fine” in this life. Instead, let us strive towards the balance of intentional structure, the kind that gives us space to grow, but also space to be better than we are in the current moment. Discipline is not bad; it acts as the guardrails that guide us, not the chains that confine us.

Guides over bondage.

For the month of June, I am committing myself to not only working out every day, but specifically going to the gym every day. No excuses! The school year is coming to an end, and yes, my schedule will be lighter, but this is something that needs to happen regardless. The discipline of going to the gym daily will have positive effects on my life that I can’t even begin to see now. It’s not just about weight-loss, but also about having structure that grounds me and keeps me focused on my end goal.

What is your end goal, Sweet Friend, and how are you pressing towards it? In this new month, let your goal give you the strength to declare NO EXCUSES as you press towards it.

It’s time, Beloved.

Be blessed.