Three Steps To A Positive Body Image
By Laura TurnerIn their book: The Body Has a Mind Of Its Own, authors Sandra and Matthew Blakeslee tell us that the image we have of our own body is not always an accurate one. At times, and of no fault of our own, the brain can create a skewed reading of what it perceives in the mirror. If this is true, and we can create negative views of what we perceive in our mind's eye, I believe we can also train our thoughts to create positive images. It simply takes a bit of work, focus and mental fine tuning. Further, if your body-image could use a shift from luke-warm to a positive boil, read on for my three steps that can help get you there.
Step One: Create A Baseline
Even if you are pleased with the image of the body you see in the mirror before you, it never hurts to take inventory of where you are right now. And if you'd like to make a change, the exercise that follows is a good way to begin. With this said, I personally advocate taking time out (especially this time of year) to evaluate how you currently feel about your body and check in with your personal proprioception (how you feel in the company of others). I invite you to give it a try. There are plenty of ways to do this online. I personally used the quiz at Netdoctor to give me a baseline of what my mind perceives about me - right now.
Step Two: Love Your Body As It Is
In step one I've suggested that you periodically take an inventory of your body image. In the same way, I believe we should all take time each day to give thanks for what we already have and to love ourselves as we are - right now. This exercise in self-love and awareness, in my experience, works to marry all parts of the "self," mind, body and spirit. With this in mind, and to aim to love my body as it is, I use a regimen inspired by the beautiful book You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise L. Hay. The exercise is simply this: First, take an overview of your body and then make note of what you love about it.
Next, let what you love about yourself expand. Do this each day by taking time in the mirror to practice sending love to yourself. Send love to the parts of yourself you admire the most and let this positive energy expand. Each day find a new part of yourself to love and send it positive energy. In time, I think you'll find, piece by piece, you will put yourself back together as a fully realized positive entity.
Step Three: Make A Plan To Change
When you are taking inventory of all the things you love about yourself, you will ultimately find things about the current "you" that you'd like to change. In my mind, the hardest part about creating a positive body image is letting go of the things we cannot change about ourselves. For example, we can't change (naturally) our bone structure, eye color, genetic makeup. Yet, there are things (within reason) that we can do something about. Nutrition, fitness and weight. These are all positive changes we can work toward making and managing.
With this in mind, you don't necessarily need expensive equipment or gym memberships to take care of your body. If it's weight you'd like to lose and you are not already - get yourself moving. Be sure to add resistance training into your workout, as well. And continue to look for simple ways you can lose weight if you need to. Although weight loss programs are beyond the scope of this article, you can check out my free eCourse "Easy Weight Loss Strategies" at the http://www.new-body-news.com/ website for ideas.
Finally, if you need to, get support. There are many ways to change what you need to by creating a supporting community. This was and continues to be the foundation of Weight Watchers. Too, many like minded friends can be found at the YMCA or through forums online.
Check out iVillage or one of my favorites, SelfGrowth.com, for a supportive holistic community.
Finally Give Thanks:
Give thanks to your body daily for the beautiful machine it is. After all, it gives you the ability to enjoy this life. I believe your body was meant to be perfect, healthy and whole just as it is. Inside all of us is the potential for health, beauty, well being and to enjoy and attract all the positive energy that is available. Give thanks for this gift. Take this time right now and vow to take care of your body and engage its natural ability to be all that it was meant to be. And in doing so you are working toward the prescription of the authors of the Body Has A Mind Of It's Own, who remind us that taking charge of our thought patterns can re-form them into healthy, positive body images and transform our lives from the ground up.
An Affirmation For The Body:
Today I send love to my body.
I thank the universe for creating me as I am
perfect, whole and loving.
I have everything I need for perfect health.
My body is perfect, whole and complete.
I am a beautiful human being,
capable of love and loving
capable of giving and receiving.
Today I bless myself and my body
for providing me with health and joy.
I love who I am and who I shall become
under the light from above.
Laura M. Turner, M.S., CHHP is an author and certified holistic health practitioner through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Want to know how to use these principles to heal your life? Let Laura show you. You'll find all the answers in her latest book: Spiritual Fitness The 7-Steps to Living Well: http://www.beauty-and-body.com/Spiritual_Fitness_Info.htm Visit Today to learn more and subscribe to her free eZine: New Body News http://www.new-body-news.com/
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 6:59 AM
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