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What words do you use to talk about your body? Are you more negative than positive when it comes to acknowledging what you see in the mirror?

I know there is a body positivity movement going on, but what about those of us who can’t find any good in our bodies because of complicated experiences in our past?

One of my earliest memories of coming face to face with feelings about my body happened when I was in high school. My parents would take our family on a road trip from Dallas to Baltimore every August. During the trip, we would make a stop at a small mall in Cookeville, Tennessee, where my mother would go school shopping for us kids.

There I was, a young girl trying on several pieces of clothing and hoping that my size 8 body would cooperate with the clothes on the racks. 

Even now, I can feel the overwhelm that stirred up in my heart back then. But God has been so gracious to give me additional experiences to hold onto in my adulthood.

During a recent work trip to Hawaii (yes, I had to go to Hawaii for work), I also carved out time to celebrate my 50th birthday. In a place with no expectations for my appearance, I allowed myself to pack only the clothing I knew I would feel good in. I didn’t select items based on what others would think. I focused on what I wanted to wear.

And when I arrived at my destination, I felt free to embrace my body without insecurity weighing me down. It was amazing being free to be me.

I’d like to encourage you to integrate “Hawaii moments” into your everyday life. You deserve to feel comfortable in your own skin. Here’s how I recommend you go about doing it:

Accept the skin you’re in 

We all have at least one thing about our bodies that we want to change. For some, it may be a flaw someone teased you about during your teenage years. For others, your body may have completely changed following childbirth, and now you don’t recognize the woman staring back at you. It could even be something only you know about. Whatever your insecurities look like, know that everyone has something they would rather hide from the rest of the world. 

Focus less on what you want to change about yourself and instead highlight the good you see. This will require you to pay attention to your thoughts and take any negative thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 2:5).

Sometimes, we feel led to adjust who we are to fit into someone else’s preference. Why do we do this? Because we all want to be loved and feel included. But when we seek affirmation in an unhealthy way, we change ourselves for others and end up not loving ourselves the way we should. Trust me, what you think of your body matters more than what someone else thinks. 

Be a good steward of your body 

Don’t allow body positivity messages to cause you to become so comfortable with your body that you fail to take care of it. Your body is a tool, a vessel if you will, that allows you to carry out God’s purpose for your life. It’s imperative that you spend time taking care of your body so that you can function to the best of your ability.

Take the steps to improve your physical and emotional health. Find a gym or workout class that you enjoy. Try going for walks if you enjoy nature. Eat foods that fuel you and give you the energy to take on your day. Spend time journaling your thoughts.

As you work on improving your body, give yourself grace in the process. There will be some things that you can’t change. Find time to emphasize what you love about yourself, even in those areas. Put your best foot forward and show up as someone whose beauty flows from the inside out. 

Pass along the positivity

Encourage your daughters and the women coming behind you to love themselves. Remind them that they are made in the image of God. They need you to call out the good you see in them. Give your girlfriends genuine compliments. Tell your daughters they are beautiful both inside and outside. Your positive words will give them the language they need to begin to say the words and believe them. 

There is something so amazing about straightening another woman’s crown. 

And for the little ladies in your life, teach them to embrace their natural beauty before introducing them to makeup. Be careful with how you speak about your body and theirs. Those words will stay with them long after they are said. Don’t underestimate the impact of your words in her world.

The next time you feel low about your body, take a look in the mirror for a moment. Call out all the good you see staring back at you, even if you can only find one thing. Remember all that your body has carried you through.

I hope you can learn to be kind to your body. If you are reading this blog post, you are alive. You have breath.

And that means, at some level, your body has been kind to you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Accepting the skin you’re in
  • Being a good steward of your body
  • Passing along the positivity

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Let’s Talk!

  1. In what ways can you incorporate “Hawaii moments” into your life?
  2. What is something you love about your body?
  3. How can you encourage the young women in your life to love themselves?

 

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