What No One Tells You About Body Positivity and Self Love
Last week I opened my emails to find out I had been selected as a Body Image Movement (BIM) global ambassador – yay! But what the heck is that I hear you ask? The Body Image Movement website says that the BIM is an internationally recognised crusade that was founded on the belief that your body is not an ornament, it’s the vehicle to your dreams. BIM believes that everyone has the right to love and embrace their body, regardless of shape, size, ethnicity or ability. A-freaking-men! How refreshing is that? The simple notion that EVERYBODY is worthy no matter how they look. I am so passionate about spreading the message of self-love and worth, and earlier in the week I spoke here about the movement that is happening, and promised to share some simple but effective ways to start accepting and celebrating yourself today – right now!
1. Appreciate the amazingly wondrous body you have!
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If you have ever treated your body in a less than desirable way (maybe inactivity, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse etc) yet you are still here with that marvelous vessel doing the very best it can, give yourself a high five. If you have ever grown a baby, give yourself a high five – that shit is hard! If you have ever had a headache, tummy ache or been tired, give yourself a massive high five! No I’m not crazy, let me explain. Our very clever bodies are phenomenal! We do some intense things to our bodies in our lifetime but it continues to function as well as it can. It even talks to us! Headaches, tummy aches and tiredness (among many other things) are all feedback – we just need to listen. Maybe you ate something your body didn’t love. Or maybe you have been stressed. When we start to reconnect with our bodies and acknowledge how amazing they are, you will very quickly start to appreciate it even more.
Related: 10 Reasons To Adore Your Body
2. Remember that you are more than what you look like.
You are the kind words that you speak. You are everything you have achieved. You are the choices that you make. You are the embrace that comforts a child. You are worthy. You are enough. You are so many things beautiful girl. Celebrate every one of them!
3. Put health before beauty.
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Focus on being healthy and how you feel, rather than what you look like. Most importantly, put your mental/emotional health first. Do you realise how damaging the words are that you tell yourself? Every time you look in the mirror and say that you are disgusting, or ugly, or worthless, you are sending a harsh and heartbreaking message to your inner self. Our minds believe whatever we tell them, so how about we flip the switch on negativity and start telling ourselves some positive truths. Tell yourself that you are amazing! You are kind! You are capable! You are worthy!
It is time to end the body-loathing and body-shaming culture we have created. The documentary ‘Embrace’ is a MUST see for every woman of every age. Gather your girlfriends, sisters, mothers, daughters and check it out – join the movement. With acceptance, comes joy. With joy comes celebration. With celebration comes happiness. Embrace You. Embrace Her.
Related: How To Start Loving Yourself When You Don’t Know How
