A Healthy Dose of Optimism

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lucy Beal, otherwise known as America’s Optimism Coach. Beal has been involved in the health and wellness industry for more than 17 years. She is a speaker, author, entrepreneur and professional life coach.

As a nationally certified counselor, she is a member of the International Coach Federation, among other worldwide organizations, and has a thriving life coaching practice in California’s Central Valley.

Beal’s ambition early in her career involved making contributions to eating disorder research and counseling for women. She is now a full-time life coach and entrepreneur focusing her energies on helping to empower women through optimism.

Beal is also the founder of  Optimistic Hearts of America, a national campaign dedicated to educating, informing, and inspiring women about the health benefits of optimism. Beal’s campaign focuses on reducing the risk of death from heart disease and other chronic illnesses and is aligned with the Hope Heart Institute, whose benefactors include the legendary Bob Hope and Dr. Lester Sauvage, founder of the Reconstructive Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at the Institute and conductor of the world's first successful experimental Coronary Artery Bypass Graft operation.

What do you think is the foremost contributing factor to obesity in our society?

Beal: It’s difficult to pinpoint what foremost factor contributes to obesity, we cannot conclusively say whether it is a disease, symptom risk or non-risk factor for disease, illness, a genetic issue or whether it is a combination. We can postulate that weight issues are a collective issue since well over a million people are overweight. It is a result of toxicity, pain, grief, suffering, stress, survival living, emotional upset and unhealthy food choices.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge for those facing the obstacles of obesity today?

Our relationship with food is in crisis. Ninety-eight to 99 percent of people that lose weight on diets gain it back within one to two years. If we look for a common denominator for the 1-2 percent of people who have lost weight and keep it off, we find in some way their story has changed. For some, weight loss itself opens the doorway for self-acceptance, but for others, self-acceptance might be the first key before weight loss can happen.

Why do we find it so hard to be optimistic about weight loss in our society?

Our society is in need of a new relationship with food, a course correction. As a society, we are tightly wound around food, body image, exercise and perfectionism. We are imprisoning ourselves. It’s like a form of self-abuse. In my work, I help people identify toxic self-diagnoses and reframe those thoughts into positive, optimistic statements. This starts from an understanding that every single one of us are on a journey of self-acceptance, self-discovery and self-nourishment. 

How do you maintain your daily view of optimism while observing others who struggle?

For each and every one of us, a positive and optimistic relationship with food and the body is a source of powerful healing and personal transformation. I am committed to sharing the principles and practices that I believe make a real difference. The difference is not only in how people eat and their relationship with food and exercise, but how they view themselves on the inside. It also has to do with how people view themselves on the inside and how they express their gifts and purpose to the world. This inspires me every second of the day.

Join us next week when we continue our interview with Lucy Beal and ask her advice on how to remain optimistic while trying to meet weight loss goals.

Everyone is invited to join our Community of Losers. There are no fees. Please e-mail me for the details. As always, I hope to see less of you soon.