Your body is yours

If we all spoke to others the way we spoke to ourselves nobody would want to be around us! Why are we so hard on ourselves? Why is it that we can cut others some slack and be merciful towards the weaknesses in others but we aren't happy with ourselves until we achieve PERFECTION! well guess what...our imperfections are what make us lovable!  Think of the people you love...why do you love them? Why are they important to you? Can we try to have some of that same kindness towards ourselves? We're never going to be perfect in this life, so lets throw in the towel, embrace who we are, and enjoy the ride!

If we are more loving and less judgemental towards others we will find ourselves being more loving and less judgemental towards ourselves. This applies to the love we show towards our bodies as well. If we are constantly comparing and criticizing other peoples bodies then we are going to feel like others are constantly criticizing our bodies as well. Do we stand in front of people 2 inches away from them and bash on every fat dimple and blemish!? No! then why do we do it to ourselves? Your body is yours, nobody else's. Who gets to say what it "should" look like, what you "should" eat? No body else gets to be with your body 24/7, no body else looks at it in the mirror everyday! And if someone is judging and criticizing your body its a reflection of how they feel about there's, it has nothing to do with YOU! Let's look past the physical and focus on something deeper, something that is lasting and REAL. It doesn't matter what somebody else thinks of your body, it is yours. It is yours to take care of, to enjoy, to experience, to nourish, to move, to feel, to think. If love could speak what would it say to your body? Would it say starve yourself..gorge yourself until you're sick...work out until you can't move...NO! It would say, you are hungry please nourish me. Since when did hunger become a sin! GRRRR get mad at that lie! Feed your hungry self! It would than say... thank you, you can stop now, I am full I know you will feed me again when I am hungry. or...it feels so good to move and dance and sing and hug and laugh and play! Thank you for loving and embracing me! What would your body say to you if love could speak?

Lasting change never occurs when its forced by shame, guilt or punishment. I can guarantee you changes will occur when you love, nourish, care for and embrace your body. When you stop using your mind to eat and instead listen to your body and notice how it feels and approach it with a little TLC. Seriously the diet industry is an $80 billion dollar a year industry, they just want our money. Don't fall victim to it. They succeed off of you and me feeling fat and not good enough, like we need to fix ourselves to achieve an impossible, unrealistic standard of beauty. If it was achievable they would be out of business. Even the people in the magazines don't look like that! Beauty is something you can feel more than something you see. Wouldn't you agree? What makes someone beautiful to you?
This is an awesome video! Warning: it is kind of disturbing, but it is a reality. ED's are on a rampage, whether you have a full blown ED or a mini ED we need to fight back! We especially need to be good examples to the young girls around us. They are going to need it!

PS, If you have an iPhone there is an app called 'Body Beautiful' its full of body image news and positive quotes. I don't have an iPhone so I don't know if its very good or not, but I just thought I'd share the news. Bonus: if you purchase it today (not sure of price) all proceeds go to the NEDA foundation. Happy National Eating Disorder Awareness week! :)