Many of us want to find love with a partner, but how often do we take stock of how much we love ourselves? The biggest hurdle to self-love is often our bodies. Unhealthy body image gets in the way of feeling worthy. We are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful, exotic, airbrushed women staring out at us from the covers of magazines with come-hither eyes and glossy lips, looking ultra glamorous on television and in the movies. They have love; they are adored.
The one thing they all have in common?
They are skinny.
Following the “ideal” beauty created by the media is impossible for all of us non-supermodels. The mold we are supposed to squeeze ourselves into is unhealthily small.
And most of us don’t fit the mold. Truly? None of us fit the mold. In fact, more often we feel like we more jello than mold.
Millions of Americans are overweight. While you can take comfort in the fact that you are not alone, it doesn’t make it any easier when you stare into magazines of photo shopped, airbrushed models or read stories of the glamorous Hollywood crowd, living the ‘skinny’ life that you don’t share.
We live in a society where emphasis is put on outward appearance. So what do we do to counter our collective obsession? Another diet? NO!
I believe that only with internal change can we cope with the illusion of perfection. Falling in love with ourselves as we are.
Internal change? That’s going to change our beauty-obsessed culture? Yes. Collective internal change. It’s that simple. Come on aboard. Here are three easy steps to follow:
- Love Yourself RIGHT NOW. This moment. Whether you are eating Ho-Hos or a banana, hard at work or taking care of a child, just stop and say, “I love you, [insert your name here].” It will probably feel silly at first. Who cares? Do it again. And again. And again, every day, until you believe it… and keep doing it—Every time you want to say something negative, say, “I love you,” instead.
- Romance yourself. Take yourself out on a date. Get yourself one nice thing, rub your shoulders or your feet (or whatever else feels like getting rubbed…!), buy yourself flowers. Look at yourself in the mirror the way a lover would look at you. Why not? You’re in love, and that’s what people in love do.
- Throw out those illusions of beauty. Cancel that subscription to the beauty rag that encourages an unrealistic body image. Life is to be lived, and lived fully.
And keep in mind that those skinny models and glamorous movie stars will also be relieved to find the day that they can open those magazines and see themselves, smiling back at themselves, with a joy that can only be seen in a life that does not include calorie-obsessed meals and the fear of a bad camera angle.
And let’s just all agree on this. If weight release is what we are really after, the only way for it to be sustainable is through self-love and self-acceptance. They need to come first.
# # #
Weight Release & Body Image Coach Laura Fenamore is on a mission to guide women around the world to love what they see in the mirror, one pinky at a time, so they can unlock the secrets to a healthy weight and start loving their lives as soon as possible. Learn more about her programs, invite her to speak or contribute to your program or conference, or place pre-orders for her book today at OnePinky.com.
