What happens when a journey goes too far?

 Whenever the topic of journeying, of setting out on a mission that is only driven by sheer motivation and a will power to accomplish; I always find myself pondering the dangerous side of this world. The risks that can unfold when people take things too far. Having will power and the drive to accomplish is often commended above most things in our society, and this can be highly motivating for many people who want to finally conquer that tedious or strenuous task. But if someone in the wrong mental state is given this message to drive themselves, it can cause them to push themselves too far until eventually they snap. The example I think of most often is something I myself have struggled with for the better part of a decade now. Fitness and eating healthily. 

    Losing weight and getting fit is the golden stamp of achievement in many peoples eyes, especially when it comes to younger adults and teens, as beauty standards are more prevalent in the eyes of this group of people. Going to the gym and eating healthy is a great thing to learn and pursue throughout ones life, as it can extend your lifespan and reduce your chances of a handful of medical conditions and complications. But what if the drive to accomplish this goal paired with the ongoing of approval of those around you push you to work at an unhealthy rate. This can lead to compulsive exercise and dieting, to people eating too little while working their bodies too hard. At first, oftentimes, they are praised for their will power and their drive, their persistence to achieve the goal they have set for themselves. But quickly, and sometimes only after years, do people begin to notice that something is not quite right. That this is the voice of a disorder speaking rather than one of motivation and drive. 

    These things, drive and disordered thoughts, often stem from the same beginning. Because of this, things like eating disorders often go unnoticed until a life long issue has already presented itself. When a goal, ones journey, is pushed too hard, it can cost them their health and potentially their life. I wish I had not been so encouraged and congratulated for my weight loss progress when I was young, as that allowed the worm in my head grow into something uncontrollable and life long. I now have to deal with the disordered thoughts that all began with a desire to better myself and my life, but in the end the opposite has come true.

    Much of this stems from our society which commends those in small bodies, this is deeply rooted in our cultures core. This cannot be stopped overnight, but by being more conscious on how we comment on peoples bodies can go a long way. It is also good to acknowledge that blind encouragement can have grave consequences on someone's life. Being intentional with what you encourage or promote goes a long way.