RISA OLINSKY, M.A.

 

This is my story.... what is yours? 

 

I was an overweight young person. I hid my sadness with a cheerful smile and my body with baggy clothes. I hated

my 5’1” frame at 140 pounds. I had body image issues before it was something people discussed,so instead of dealing

with these challenges I pretended to be happy.  Being around people filled me with energy, yet the path I chose

required me to sit alone for hours practicing the piano. My childhood dream came true, when I was accepted into a

college music school in 1973. Within a short period of time and long hours at the piano, I gained more weight, the good old freshman 15 pounds -  topping the scale at 155. My freshman year at college was supposed to be a fun time in life: it wasn't for me. Something needed to change. After some serious soul searching and two years under my belt,  I took a

leave from college to sort things out. I asked myself these questions...

 

What was missing in my life?

What did I really want and need?

Why had I chosen a path that was not making me happy? ​

CHANGE...

The beginning of changes that continued for several years to come ....

 

Why share my story? Because, it has a lot to do with who I am now and how I may be able to help others. 

I learned that what was then negatively labelled as "restless energy" and best to be controlled was not at all that, 

but instead, my energy was in fact, my personal strength. I was a physical person trapped in a sedentary body. Like a

circle trying to fit in a square. I was a creative person, but sitting at the piano for several hours a day was not the best

place to express my creativity and surely a misplaced use of this "restless" energy.

Fast forward a few years later and several unforeseen family tragedies, I sought help to cope with my unhappiness. I changed my attitude and by doing so, the way I saw my body. In the course of identifying what I

needed to be happy and enjoy life, I lost more than 40 pounds and have kept it for 40 years. I learned that by using my personal strengths I could help myself and others at the same time.

 

I discovered and accepted that if I took care of my body; it would in turn, take care of my emotions, my relatioship with

food and visa a versa.  I would thrive; not just survive. I let go of the "shoulds" and instead, adopted the "I can and I will" approach toward challenges in my life. A whole new world opened up. It was a bit scary, but oh, so exciting. To this day,

I continue to welcome change, flexiblity and the unknown with curiousity versus fear.  

Here are a few questions that if you ask yourself, you will begin to understand what I mean. 

 

What are your personal strengths? 

What changes can you make in your life by applying, not resisting these strengths?  

Are you living according to who you want to be versus, who you think you should be?

Or perhaps, who others think you should be? 

 

Are YOU ready to change? 

Learn how coaching can help you take the next step?

Give a call or drop an email to set up a complimentary consultation to talk about what changes you want to make. 

What is your story?   Click and send me an email.