Conquering Your Inner Bully

By: Samya Osman

We’ve all been there—hearing that nagging voice inside our heads, telling us we’ve messed up, that we aren’t good enough, or that we’ve failed in some way. It can be so easy to fall into the trap of self-criticism, especially when it comes to our health journey. But what if we learned to silence that inner bully?

Think of your health like a lightbulb with a dimmer, not one with an on/off switch. Some days your light shines brighter than others, but the light is always on. When we adopt an all-or-nothing mindset, it's easy to think that one mistake ruins everything. For example, if you have a bite of chocolate, it’s tempting to tell yourself, “Well, I’ve blown my healthy eating for the day, I might as well finish the whole bar.” But here’s the truth: your health isn’t a black-and-white situation. It's a dimmer. You don’t have to be perfect to make progress.

Remember: there’s no such thing as failure, only feedback. Instead of thinking in terms of all-or-nothing, try focusing on "always something." Every small step forward counts. Forward is forward, no matter how small the movement.

Here's an analogy I came across in one of my nutrition courses that really resonated with me: Think of healthy eating like a bank account. Every healthy choice you make deposits into your "health account," while less ideal choices are withdrawals. As long as you’re making more deposits than withdrawals, you’ll end up with a positive balance, supporting your overall well-being.

So, do the best you can, where you are, with what you have. Embrace progress over perfection, and allow yourself the grace to keep going, even on days that don’t feel perfect. Conquering your inner bully starts with shifting your mindset and realizing that every choice, no matter how small, is part of your journey toward success.