Among all the personal development work I’ve been doing, one of the largest challenges I’ve adopted this year was to disengage from treating my appearance as a primary source of my identity. I have long-seeded body image issues, as do many of us, but this past year, I took on a mission that really tested those: I quit smoking.

How we treat our bodies is literally how we live. And living your life from a place of balance and centeredness makes everything more grand. It helps you show up with love instead of fear, helps you grow relationships, and ponder the world with the wonder of a child instead of the stress of an overworked adult. It helps you regain a sense of freedom, not just in your body, but in your life.