(For this post you will need a mirror)
Ok, once you have your mirror in front of you, see if you can write down the first five thoughts that pop into your head as you look at your reflection.
What were your immediate thoughts? Did they sound anything like, “If only I _____”, and “I need to____” , or “I should really____,”?
Why are those the first thoughts that pop into our heads?
We are all taught at ever increasingly younger ages to conform to external notions of what our bodies should look like. We get these profoundly damaging messages from the media, magazines, fashion industry and unfortunately also from family and friends. It only makes sense that the voices we hear in our heads when we look in the mirror are these external voices and expressions of a completely unrealistic ideal that doesn’t work for us and makes us feel miserable.
In fact, very few of us are taught or socialized to feel that we are allowed and should form our own opinions and voices about our bodies. Often we see our own bodies as objects that we constantly subject to these critical thoughts.
Can we all agree to put a stop to this madness? Our bodies can actually feel wonderful and can be a great source of joy and happiness if we allow them the opportunity! Let’s make a pact to take our bodies back please!
How can we uncover our bodies’ own magnificent voices?
One practice is to spend five minutes each day doing any physical exercise that helps to put us back in touch with actually feeling things within our own bodies. It can be yoga poses, running, walking, even breathing. Five minutes where we allow our attention to focus on what the physical body is doing or feeling.
“As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than there is wrong…,”
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
When we take the time to experience and appreciate the beauty and wondrousness of what is right with our bodies, the external harmful ideals seem to take up a much smaller area of our minds. The harmful thoughts can begin to fade away.
So let’s take out those mirrors once again and yet this time let’s see if we can find at least five things right with our bodies. Your body knows exactly what they are, the mind, however might need a little more convincing.
Restartwell 