Do you engage in “all or nothing thinking?”

For example, do you believe that you need to eat mindfully ALL of the time for it to count? And if you can’t eat mindfully ALL of the time, then it isn’t worth it to try at all. Or, do you believe that you must exercise for X times a week or for X amount of time? And, if you can’t, then you don’t exercise at all.

Similarly, do you only value progress if you do things perfectly while you neglect to celebrate the smaller steps you take along the way? Perhaps you only give yourself credit if you don’t overeat, but ignore all the other ways you’ve listened to your body and taken care of yourself during the day.

If this is the case, recognize that you are engaged in “all or nothing thinking.” Write down all the ways that “all or nothing thinking” stops you from moving forward or from appreciating any baby steps you take.

Today, think of one way “all or nothing thinking” keeps you from performing self-care. Instead of thinking that you must eat mindfully all of the time, today, try eating mindfully for only 2 minutes. Then celebrate this achievement. Or, go for a 10 minute walk instead of waiting for a day when you can walk for an hour.

Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Every single step, no matter how small, moves you forward.