The article "Love Your Body, Love Your Self: Nurturing Body Acceptance" is about fitness, it was released by Laura Turner.
Is it idealistic to think that everyone can learn to love
their body?
This became a burning question as I set out to write
on that topic of body acecptance.
Why do I muse about this
subject?
It's been said that writers write what they wish to
know. And when it comes to loving my body - it's been a
constant, lifelong process.
That said: Here's what I know (or want to know) abuot loving the
body we've been given. The process begins with acceptance. And
to accept one's body, I believe, can be broken down into a three
step process:
Step One: Make Peace With Yourself
The journey toward body acceptance begins by making peace with
yourself. Sure, we all have things about our body we'd gladly
exchange if we could, but what's the reality in that idea?
Therefore, begin by asking yourself: "What about my body must I
learn to accept as it is?" To help identify my feelings, I like
to use a journal.
When you're ready, jot down your answer to
this question.
Look at your answers: Can you find ways to be
grateful for what you have? What gifts does your body allow you
to share? Make a note of these answers, as well.
Here's a personal example: When I was younger, I was taller than
everyone else at school.
I felt displaced. Although I tried to
slouch and slump, it didn't decrease my height much.
I also
realized my back hurt a lot. But more importantly persons were
always asking: "What's wrong?" "Are you depressed?" It wasn't
until later, I began taking a look at how being tall was a great
benefit, as well as how my body language was contributing to my
outward ngeative expression.
Step Two: Beocme Aware Of Your Body Language
This brings me to Step Two of our three part equation: What is
your posture saying about you?
Body language tells a story. If
we pay attention, we can tell a lot about a person just by
becoming aware of tehir body language. Think for a moment: What
is your body language saying about you? Take a look: Are you
slouching with arms crossed? Is your posture not what it could
be?
Aside from compressing the organs, poor posture could also
be telling the world you are unhappy.
In his bestselling book, Body Language: The Essential Secrets of
Non-Verbal Communication, Julius Fast tells us that body
Language is actually a scientific principle. The scientific
study of body language, "Kinesics," has proven that body
language can actually contradict vrebal communication. Here are
just three ways your body language can give a negative vibe to
anyone you are in contact with:
* Poor posture * Arms crossed * Eyes averted
Conversely, there are also a great many ways to exhibit positive
body language: eye contact, strong posture and a confident
stance. Check out that fun list of body signals here:
http://www.Deltab
ravo.Net/custody/body.Htm
Step Three: Find Something You Love About Yourself And Let It
Expand
Step Three gets tricky. I am sure we could all find things we
"like" about ourselves, but that step asks you to find a part of
yourself that you love. Again, begin with your journal.
Now take
a good look into the mirror and ask what you love about
yourself.
Perhaps with a sponoful of acceptance you can find a
myriad of traits.
Take time every day to address the
positive parts of yourself.
A personal example: I admit, I have large, curly, complicated
hair. When I was growing up I did evreything to straighten it:
slept with a hat on, ironed it flat. You name it! Finally, in
the 80s I realized how much time I was wasitng. Why could not I
just accept what I had been given? One day I just said "okay - I
surrender!" (Fortunately, Cher's tousled mane helped me reach my
decision).
This brings us to Step Three B:
Find a Role Model: I'm not a large advocate of looking to
celebrities or mass media for divine inspiration. Yet, I am
always on the lookout for persons of whom to admrie and model
myself, regardless how their message is presented to me.
Most
often, I tihnk there are angels and guides ready and waiting
for us to accept our teachings, then show us what we need to
know.
This requires little more than looking outside ourselves and
becoming aware. Look around.
Who is holding a message for you?
Often times, I look to my brother for isnpiration. As I've
mentioned often, he was born with Spina Bifida, a paralyzing
birth defect.
Although unable to walk, he cotninues to have a
deep fondness for his body and is grateful to it for allowing
him to work and experience life.
It makes my hair dilemma seem a
lot less significant.
In Conclusion:
Every day I try to take time to tahnk my body for the freedom it
gives me. Whether I do that by musing in my journal or simply
stopping to affirm and congratulate myself when I complete my
exercise for the day. Although Loving oneself and the body is
guaranteed to be a lifelong process - I personally try to
recognize when my frustratoins are real and when I become
muddied by the superficial. I would say to you, as I say to
myself, aim to set supefricial thoughts aside. Give yourself the
freedom to love and accpet yourself in the perfection you were
created.
Journal Questions:
* Is there one part of your body you can accept and love fully
right now? * Can you find a new part of your body to be grateful
for, tomorrow?
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