“Why do you live in your body like you will be given another? As if it were temporary. You starve it, you let anyone touch it, you berate it. Tell it that should be completely different. You tug at your soft flesh, wish it thinner, wish it gone. You fall in love with those who praise the way it sighs under their hands, but who praises the way it holds up your weight, even when you are falling apart?” — Warsan Shire
How much time do you spend thinking about how you look?
A bit each day? A bigger chunk of your time? Or not too much at all?
Somehow, we got stuck in the idea that everyone has to look a certain way.
As if it was better to use a cookie cutter to ensure everyone has the same type of body or face.
We very well know that it breeds insecurities and unhealthy behavior.
Just consider the amount of energy and time spent thinking something is wrong with how we look.
We might miss out on going to a pool party because we fear judgment.
Or we never even trying something new as we believe we won’t look good enough to do it.
We might say the meanest things to ourselves about our bodies.
Instead of enjoying the moment, we get hung up on being self-conscious.
Thoughts on how our body is not meeting our own or society’s expectations invade our freedom and calm.
It’s extremely hard to be at peace with your mind if you are not at peace with the body that provides its home.
As a result, in some way or another, we abuse our bodies: we eat too little, we eat too much, we eat unhealthy stuff, we do too much exercise, we do no exercise, we’re resting too much, we’re not resting at all, we hate it for its imperfection… you get it.
However, “the body you are given will be yours for the duration of your time here. Love it or hate it, accept it or reject it, it is the only one you will receive in this lifetime. It will be with you from the moment you draw your first breath to the last beat of your heart. Since there is a no-refund, no exchange policy on this body of yours, it is essential that you learn to transform your body from a mere vessel into a beloved partner and lifelong alley, as the relationship between you and your body is the most fundamental and important relationship of your lifetime.
It is the blueprint from which all your other relationships will be built.” — Chérie Carter-Scott
This article is supposed to serve as a brief reminder to be nicer to yourself when you look into the mirror. It’s time to praise your body for all that it can do and does for you every day. It’s time to accept all its parts. You might still have areas that you would like to change. And that is okay if they are changeable in a loving and accepting way through exercise or healthy eating. If they are not changeable, then it’s time to make peace with these parts. They are the unique decoration your body — your mind’s home — came with.
In the end, you might find that it is easier on you to accept your body compared to being in a constant fight with it.
You will gain a few more pieces of freedom and calm with each step towards acceptance.
Imagine who you will be and what you can do when you arrive.