Are you in Love or Hate with Your Body?
How many times have you looked at your physical reflection and zoned in on the body parts you’re not so fond of, only to begin a barrage of nasty name-calling and judgements in your mind towards it?
Our body image is largely dependant on how we FEEL and THINK about our bodies.
When we have negative feelings towards our bodies, our mind, mood, confidence, eating choices and behaviour all decline as we focus on those negative feelings, become overcome by them, and eventually feel even more weighed down by what’s wrong with ourselves.
Man! That’s hard work!
Your body is a temple. It is the keeper of your mind, spirit and emotions.
It keeps you upright, breathing and functioning regardless of what you expect of it.
Think of your favourite pet: cat, dog, horse, bird…etc. If all you showed your loyal, loving pet was neglect, disappointment and resentment at looking after it, how do you think your pet would grow towards you? How do you think your pet would feel every time you showed it anger or frustration?
Your body is similar to caring for a pet. It needs love, attention and understanding.
When you look at yourself in the mirror and only see what you don’t like about your body, you are not only ignorant to the attractive parts of you physically, but you also stop seeing the beauty in your own heart. You stop seeing your true self.
Who you are as a person is not defined by what you look like on the outside. Your physical appearance is more a display of the love, attention and understanding that you have for yourself – in other words, your SELF-RESPECT.
Loving your body is respecting your body and it’s high importance in your life.
If you don’t value yourself first, you will not value your body. And when you spend most of your time criticising and degrading your body, you are certainly not showing it love, attention and understanding. You are beating it up and your whole self in the process.
To stop hating your body you need to look upon yourself with kinder eyes.
Start seeing the parts of you that you DO like – and appreciate them MORE.
I like to do this by using a Mirror Challenge, a very affective tool that I use with my clients.
The Mirror Challenge is a time to see yourself in a new light!
- Every morning find just one thing that you like about yourself in the mirror. This can be a physical attribute or characteristic trait. Write it down, and add to it every day. Look over your list daily to begin seeing yourself and the woman you are now (who you’re growing into) from a different perspective. Over time you will gradually expand your perception of yourself to encompass all aspects of your positive self.
When you begin to love and accept yourself – perceived flaws and all – you will begin to love ALL of you, including the parts that you’ve spent a lifetime hating.
Your body will then begin to release the negative emotions and physical strains of feeling your pain, and start to move with you in making positive changes to your health and happiness.
Your body is a reflection of what you THINK about yourself.
Change your thinking and you change your life.
Respect yourself and love your body so you can find a new way to live more comfortably in it.
Namaste
Viki xo
About Viki
Viki Thondley is a Holistic Health Counsellor, Wellness Coach, Meditation Teacher, Stress Educator, and Eating Disorder & Lifestyle Specialist. Recovered from bulimia nervosa and the many years of hormonal imbalances, food challenges and self-sabotaging behaviours’, Viki now provides holistic personalised programs and retreats to inspire self-love, healing, body confidence and wellbeing. Viki’s passion is to help you balance your mindset, body and life to become happy, healthy, confident and free!
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