I know how hard it is to struggle with your body.
I know how much it can consume your day and your every thought.
“Why can’t I just lose weight”.
“I hate my stomach”.
“Why doesn’t my body look like that”.
“I can’t wear this”.
These thoughts are deafening. They are painful. They take up so much of our energy and our brain space, but mostly they are just exhausting.
I know because I was over consumed by them for nearly two decades of my life.
Making peace with my body was one of the best things I did for my mental health, and it let me do bigger and better things with my life.
If you are struggling with your body image right now, I encourage you to not let your body rule your life and happiness any longer.
What if, instead of hating your body, your goal was to have a peaceful relationship with your body instead?
I know it is a lot easier said than done. Believe me I get it. I have been there, and it does take time, but this is why I want to share with you one of the things that helped me.
It was practicing body appreciation and gratitude.
Practicing gratitude with your body is being thankful and appreciating everything your body does for you. For years, I never a took a moment to thank my body or appreciate it; all I did was punish it. In fact, it never crossed my mind that my body works so hard every day just to keep me alive. I didn’t know this back then, but by continually punishing and trying to change my body, I was not only contributing to my body dissatisfaction, but also negatively impacting my own mental and physical health.
By practicing gratitude and body appreciation instead, not only will it help you start feeling better in your body right now, but it will also help you heal your relationship with your body.
Imagine how different you would feel if you lived in awe of what your body does for you every day?
Here is a gratitude activity to help get you started
- Write down all the things you are most grateful for and that you appreciate about your body.
Here are some of mine as an example.
I am grateful that I am breathing and that I can get out of bed easily without any pain.
I am grateful that my legs let me walk and dance.
I am grateful to my arms for letting me hug my loved ones.
I am grateful to my belly, which housed my son.
But I am most appreciative for everything that my body has done for me, despite everything I have put it through over the years.
Now it’s your turn!
P.S This activity is one of the many that are featured in my book Be You, Be Free that will help you heal your relationship to food, exercise, and your body once and for all.