Are You Comfortable in Your Own Skin?
Stop body shaming and start loving your nakedness
When I started my yoga teacher training, my Guruji taught on night one what might have been one of the most important lessons of the training, body acceptance. She said, “Okay everyone, I want you to take off your shirts if you are wearing a sports bra under it. Learn to let those bellies hang out proudly. Embrace who you are, do not hide it. Learn to love who you are, right here, right now.” That stuck with me. We were each built differently, and it did not matter. It was a room of non-judgement. It was an incredibly liberating feeling.
Negative body image, or one step further which is the severe form called body dysmorphia, can affect all aspects of our lives including academics, relationships, and career. It is incredibly damaging to our self-esteem, our mental and our physical health. In body dysmorphia, someone sees a minor flaw as a major affliction, and it becomes an obsession that they hate about themselves. My own teenage son refused to wear shorts one summer because he felt his legs were too long and skinny. It made me sad he sacrificed being hot because he was embarrassed of his body image.
To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept Yourself.~ Tich Nhat Hanh
Pressure is high from society to look good, and we are unfortunately constantly comparing ourselves, thanks in part to social media. Models are air brushed and edited and there are apps that let people manipulate themselves with filters to look better. It is becoming such a global problem that Norway is adding a new law that any paid social media post must clearly state any photo that has been digitally altered. Very little is seems, but it is the illusion of what they want you to see.
Children at very young ages are showing concerns about body weight and image awareness, according to Psychology Magazine. Being aware is a good thing but becoming obsessed to the point of creating an eating disorder or becoming unhappy with themselves is heartbreaking. We have a society of extremes. On one hand, we have morbidly obese people and on the other we have extremely thin, however on all ends of the spectrum we have people who are unhappy with some aspect of their body.
TO BE EMPOWERED,
TO BE FREE,
TO BE UNLIMITED
TO BE CREATIVE,
TO BE GENIUS,
TO BE DIVINE,
THAT IS WHO YOU ARE.
~Dr. Joe Dispenza
Until we completely love, accept, and honor ourselves exactly where we are, we cannot achieve the results we desire. When we are in a negative mindset, we attract negative results. This is when we overeat, we do not practice self-love or workout.
But, when we embrace self-acceptance, we switch into that positive mindset where we are then capable of attracting positive energy and results. We can then manifest the results we want to achieve. For example, If I were overweight and visualized myself losing 45 pounds, attracting my ideal mate, being happy in my career, being active and having more friends, I would be likely to achieve those things and be able to accomplish those goals once I embraced full acceptance. I would do that by eating more nutritious well-balanced meals with smaller portions, getting more movement more frequently, practicing positive affirmations, finding hobbies that boost my self-esteem, and staying on task.
As a person who is petite and thin, I tire of people telling me I need to eat more. I eat a plant-based diet that includes cheese. I love food and have a very healthy relationship with it. However, because I am thin and fit, I have been accused of having eating disorders. This is so sad and frankly obnoxious. Why are people body shaming ME for being healthy? I am a little below my ideal BMI, but I am very aware of that, and I eat three meals a day and snack in between. I was just blessed with good metabolism and stay active. I have my own insecurities without being shamed for being too thin. For example, I have Osgood-Schlatter Disease which makes the bones in my knee’s mis-shaped so that they stick out, and my eyes are sunken, and one side of my jaw is round where the other side is more squared. I was teased as a child and I am still insecure to this day, but I have worked hard to accept myself how I am. People constantly telling me I am too thin is no different from telling someone who is fat they are overweight. It is rude, stop judging and shaming and start taking personal responsibility.
Take Away
Each body is different just as each person is different. If you are struggling with body consciousness please know:
We all have fat rolls when we bend over.
Scars and stretch marks tell a story. Be proud.
We all have more, and less, flattering angles when taking photos.
We all have certain outfits that are more flattering.
We all have certain images that have been edited.
Most importantly, we all have feelings that get hurt when we are judged and shamed. We like to feel accepted.
You are YOU, and that is your gift. Live your authentic life. Be proud of your body and recognize all that it does for you. The most important part is that you are healthy. Honor your body now so that you can feel good into your old age. I know when I feel good in my own skin I also feel sexy, which benefits my lover too. Be comfortable in your own skin. Love your body, get naked more often, and strut your stuff with confidence.