By Da’Sha Tuck, Staff writer
With a mission to help people become the best version of themselves, MacKenzie Wolf, designer of FAB 7, took the stage in Wrather West Kentucky Museum last week to introduce her new program.
Struggling to be her best self while battling anorexia helped shape Wolf’s program. Her journey compelled her to help others realize an important aspect of her program: a perfect body is no good without a soul to match.
Wolf said she grew up with an intense pressure to be “perfect.” She referred to it as walking a straight white line and never straying. When she decided to start her new fabulous life, her “Dare to be FAB 7” was created.
“I looked at what I had learned through all my studies and what I had been through,” she said. “These were the things that really made a difference for me.”
Authenticity
At the center of the puzzle is authenticity. Wolf believes that this piece is the most important when it comes to being fabulous. With this step, each person should practice honest self-assessment.
“You can’t make changes if you aren’t authentic,” Wolf said.
Wolf stressed the importance of being honest with one’s self. As an example, she talked about a woman on an all-liquid diet, in order to lose weight. The woman went with a friend to get ice cream, but when reminded she was on a liquid diet, she said she would just wait for her ice cream to melt.
Wolf said people rationalize to fit their convenience.
Consciousness
In this step, it is important to be aware of mind games people can play on themselves, for example, all the what-if scenarios, obsessions and negative labels.
“Words we say to ourselves don’t seem like they have an impact on our self-esteem,” Wolf said, “But the unconscious mind takes note.”
She also stressed the importance of knowing the difference between fear and danger. Fear is a fantasized experience that seems real but is not dangerous.
Even though fear and danger are two different concepts, they both have an impact on people’s actions and how they proceed in life, she said.
Choice
Every day, everyone is faced with hundreds of choices and those choices define their future self.
“With every choice, you are creating all your tomorrows,” Wolf said. “Choose the new and fabulous.”
Wolf used herself as an example when describing this step. She said she has been guilty of not doing something because it would require her to leave her comfort zone even though she was being miserable passing up the new experiences.
Relationship
This step refers to maintaining a positive relationship with self, others and the world.
Wolf began this section by asking if the audience ever make a to-do list. Everyone answered yes and Wolf asked where does the audience place themselves on the list.
She said it is important to take the time to practice self-care.
Nourishment
Nourishment refers to the body, soul and the mind.
Wolf addressed crash diets and said they were detrimental to this step.
“It is all about balance,” she said. “Forbidding a certain food will only make it more desirable.”
She encouraged the audience to find their own form of meditation whether that be yoga, bubble baths, cleaning or whatever allows the mind to rest.
Movement
Revitalizing the mind and body through exercise. Wolf said the key here is to make the movement fun.
At this point during the event, Wolf turned on some music and danced with the crowd. She said dancing is fun and it burns calories.
Action
This step was simple: just start now because there are only so many tomorrows.
“Start learning to love who you are,” she said. “Be kind to yourself.”
Among the small group of attendees was Taylor Rhoades, Murray State alumnus. She said she heard about the event through church where she attends with Wolf. She said she wasn’t exactly sure what to expect but she was glad she came.
“I was interested to see what she had to say,” Rhoades said. “I wish I had heard these things when I was 16-years-old but I can still benefit from hearing it now.”
Another student, Khariah Payne, senior from Evansville, Indiana, was not so impressed with the event.
“It sounded like every other self-help guideline,” Payne said. “It didn’t feel deep enough to nourish actual change in college students.
The event was not highly attended but Wolf hopes to have more people the next time she visits campus in February.