Health, Happiness, and Sweaty Hugs

Evelyn Jack
Aug 14
3 min read

Updated: Aug 15

One of my favorite aspects of my current work is that I get to be part of someone else’s journey to discover themselves—and to improve their health.

That alone is magic.

There’s a massive shift happening where people’s feelings and thoughts matter. People are starting to listen to one another, really listen, not simply dismiss someone’s truth because it’s inconvenient.

And the difference is palpable.

Now, when I encounter someone with outdated thinking patterns or extreme self-entitlement, their energy feels foreign.

Out of place.

Like an old radio station I used to listen to that’s suddenly gone to static.

The Layers We Don’t See

Most of us have been coated, slowly and silently, in the layers of other people’s expectations.

Societal norms telling us what “success” looks like.
Family values we inherited without questioning.
Religious beliefs we absorbed because that’s what was taught.
Workplace rules about how to dress, talk, and interact.

Over time, those layers start to feel permanent. They’re not. But when you’ve worn them long enough, you forget they’re even there.

You learn to adapt. To shrink. To twist yourself into a shape that fits the room—even when that shape doesn’t fit you.

Leaving the Old Frequencies Behind

In stepping away from the environments that demanded conformity and suppression, I’ve rediscovered parts of myself I thought were gone forever. Including my immaturity—the fun kind. My childlike curiosity. My willingness to be silly. My love of play.

It turns out, embracing those traits has made me a better adult.

I’m more open, more creative, and more compassionate. I see possibilities instead of limitations.

I take the work seriously, but not myself.

The First Step Is Honesty

If you’ve been living for years according to other people’s scripts, it’s not easy to suddenly “know what you want.”

That’s why honesty—real, unfiltered honesty with yourself—is where it has to start. And that’s also why it’s so hard.

It’s hard to admit you’ve been building a life that doesn’t match your values. It’s hard to admit you’ve ignored your own needs for so long that you can’t even name what they are!

But once you do, you can start making choices that match the life you want—not the one you were told to want.

The Reward Money Can’t Buy

Not everyone’s journey looks the same. But being part of so many people’s journeys—to get in shape, reclaim their bodies, rebuild their strength—has been a reward in ways money will never measure.

There’s nothing like the sweaty hug from a client who just lost weight, quit smoking, or can kneel again without pain for the first time in years. Those moments aren’t just inspiring—they’ve been a reminder:

I should have always been doing this.

I’m meant to be this person in the world—the one cheering others on, celebrating their wins, holding space for the hard days, and helping them trust their own strength.

And the best part?

I get to do it while embracing the playful, wide-eyed parts of myself I was told to “grow up” and abandon.

So… How Do You Actually See Yourself Again?

If you’ve been living on autopilot for so long that you’re not sure who “you” even is anymore—start small. Here’s what’s worked for me and my clients:

Buy the outfit you think is “too cool” for you. Wear it anyway.
Talk about yourself as if you're already the person you want to be. Say it out loud!
Do something immature EVERY DAY—sing in your car, take a hula hoop class, wear glitter eyeliner to brunch.
Ask yourself daily: “What do I want right now?” Make a list (either in your head or write it down). Then try to give yourself at least one thing from the list.
Spend time alone without your phone or other distractions so you can hear your own thoughts.
Write your own introduction/bio as if someone else were reading it to a crowd. Believe it. Live up to that version of you.
Challenge your comfort zone—sign up for a class, go to an event, or start a hobby you’ve secretly wanted to try.
Stop judging others for not conforming to the norm. You can do it too; you don’t have to be on the sidelines critiquing. If you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, flip it around and say, “That’s great, that person has found their own style/personality/way.”
Stop waiting for permission to change your story. Perception is not reality—and you can rewrite both.