We are all perfectly IMPERFECT, and that is exactly how it should be.

This week, I noticed that many of my clients were feeling some stress, and I want to share exactly how we dealt with it.

I’m currently working with a longtime client, an 18-year-old tennis player who is a total beachy kid. As a mom, I empathize. He just wants to hit the surf and prep for his freshman year of college, but he also just wants to enjoy being a teenager. Watching him navigate this transition 1:1 with me made me realize something important: life is hard to navigate alone. We all have choices, and we all deserve support.

That is exactly why I built the Shifting Patterns Membership. I know that having a community that holds space for you while you practice new rhythms is the difference between struggling alone and thriving together.

My client’s pressure to balance his athletic goals with the anxiety of an open college dining hall is already getting to him, even in June, for the fall. He was so stuck in his head, worrying about doing everything perfectly. I share this because it is something we all experience but rarely say out loud: life gets messy. Whether you are a young athlete dreaming of the waves or a busy parent, we all go through things. Sometimes the days flow with absolute magic, and other times, it feels like we are just trying to keep our heads above water.

When life feels heavy, our relationship with food and our bodies can suddenly feel incredibly complicated. We might find ourselves wanting to disconnect, or we might feel guilty.

I want you to know that I see you, and I experience those very same waves.

The secret is not to avoid the hard things. The secret is having a gentle, unwavering foundation to return to when the storm hits. It is about getting out of your head and safely back into your body. For my tennis player, that meant realizing he could enjoy late-night dinners with his friends because Rule #2 - Eat What You Love is always in effect. It meant trusting that he could fuel his intense court time just by practicing Rule #1 - Eat When You're Hungry (take your normal portion and wait 15 minutes and see if you need more). He is well-practiced in this and knows how to stay focused; he can just DM me or use the private Facebook group to get a hold of me. I am always there for my people!

In the last few weeks, I have been using a new tool that I am absolutely loving. To help him, and to help all of you anchor that same peace, I want to share it with you. I came across the G.A.M.E. framework recently, and something about it really caught my attention. I spent time sitting with it and adapting it to fit the work we do here in the Kim Shapira Method. It is a wonderful little practice to help you find peace around food and connect back to the present moment.

We are playing it in the Reset & in the Membership Groups:

G is for Gratitude: Find one thing you are grateful for in that exact micro moment. Not a big thing. Not a life-changing thing. Just one thing that is true and real right now. The sun is out. Your coffee is warm. You made it through the week.

A is for Affirmation: State a positive truth out loud or in your head. Something like: everything is working out for me. I am exactly where I need to be. I am figuring this out.

M is for Mental Image: Take one second and picture the best version of yourself. Not perfect. Just the version of you that is calm, present, and not at war with food or her body. See her. She is real.

E is for Exercise: This is the actual act of doing it. Pick a trigger, like seeing a red car. Every time you see one, you run the loop. Gratitude. Affirmation. Mental image. And EXERCISE. Again and again throughout the day until it becomes automatic.

This little loop pairs perfectly with our non-negotiable rules. They are not rigid walls to keep you trapped; they are a soft landing pad for when you need comfort and safety.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can run your G.A.M.E. loop before you practice Rule #3 - Eat Without Distraction. Or, you can use your trigger to run the loop while you are out hitting your goal for Rule #4 - Walk 10,000 Steps. Just like my tennis player, remember that Rule #5 - Drink 8 Glasses of Water and Rule #6 - Sleep 7 hours are your ultimate tools for recovery and self-care.

You do not have to be perfect. You just have to be present. If you have been struggling lately, I want you to give yourself the ultimate grace. Do not worry about tomorrow. Just focus on right now, run your G.A.M.E. loop, and check in with your body.

These are the moments when I realize why I am so passionate about "Shifting Patterns." We all need support when we are doing the hard work of unlearning old habits. BTW, we always have room for more. If you decide you are ready for that extra layer of support as you shift your own patterns, we would love to have you in the membership family.

Trust you have all the tools to build this foundation. If you want to know where to start, take my free quiz. We are in this together, step by step!

Sending you so much love,

Kim ❤️