S&S PROMPT: PSYCHOLOGY INSPIRED POETRY

Body — An Earth Suit

A kindness perspective

Mirror, mirror — What do you see? Contents of the inner mind Reflection or projection?

Reflection of a body judged but not cherished longing for connection

Projection of wants Of external appeals and approvals limited to surface level

Size, color, number, or shape imperfections and limitations Non-acceptance above all

Rejections and comparisons too much or not enough Just not good enough

Pause and perhaps a question Body — an earth suit A prison or a temple?

What’s your perspective?

Few in this world can truly say that they have complete and full body acceptance — dissatisfaction with our bodies is common and can even lead to a number of worrisome outcomes, including eating disorders, low self-esteem, and a range of anxiety and depression-related problems.

Researchers have long studied body image and over time learned a lot about what makes a person’s body image worse; for instance, most of the positive body image interventions focused on telling a person they’re beautiful the way they are or exhorting them to “love their bodies” are almost always doomed to failure and certainly don’t help.

There is still quite a lack of empirically supported interventions for improving body image — one recent study shows promise that writing exercises based on developing self-compassion could be effective — essentially suggesting that learning a framework centered around writing self-compassion and body functionality-focused letters that allows one to practice kinder, gentler way of thinking about your body can significantly improve body image.

Laura Griffith Machado, PsyD, an S&S editor and a psychologist with expertise in treating eating disorders, suggests the following when it comes to body image:

Why is our goal to learn to like what we look like for what it looks like when our perception of our reflection is always changing and an unreliable tool. This is a goal in which, even when you succeed, there is no resting, because the next hour, day, or week, your perception of your image might have changed. Positive body image is a bad goal. It’s unwinnable. Unstable.

Instead.

Think of your body as your earth suit. We can develop a kindness toward the body. An appreciation toward the body. A respect toward the body. An understanding toward the body.

An unconditionally, compassionate, respectful relationship with our body is a stable option.

Body, you have been through so much, I understand if you ache and tire. Body, you are asking for nourishment, I respect you enough to feed you well. Body, you are asking for rest, I care for you enough to lie you down. Body, you are asking for play, I love you enough to take you outside, to jump, to run, to explore. Body, I have ignored your signals.. — stayed up when you begged to go to bed — ate and ate and ate when you said you were too full — put you on diet plan after diet plan when you screamed for nourishment — flooded you with cortisol when I worked long hours in a stressful job

And yet, body, you continue to be my earth suit.

My soul. here. because of you. Thank you!

So, perhaps a kindness perspective — let us find a way to celebrate our earth suits — in all their shapes, colors, forms, and versions, and while we are at it, extend that kindness to fellow earth suit occupants. Together we just might create a more accepting world, one that cares and celebrates the wants and needs within ourselves and that of our communities.

Thank you all for reading.

*This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.

**This story is part of the S&S Prompt series — science-inspired prompts to get you inspired — Our dear readers — have a little fun exercising your artistic creativity and write a science-inspired story — the format is entirely up to you — haiku, sciku, limerick, poetry, prose, painting, etc. — if you do — feel free to publish it anywhere on medium, just tag it with #SnSPrompt.

***Tagging everyone for your support to S&S — a huge thank you — Jim Mason Camille Allard Nidhi Dhawan Skanda Vivek Diliny M. De Alwis K. Barrett Gail England Adelia Ritchie Rochelle Silva Samataria Lucía Cortez Ana Ryan kurt gasbarra Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Pradeep Srivastav Ben ChuksAmy Lee Kite Denay Montgomery-Ryan Sarah Rossi Caroline Mellor Laura Griffith Machado, PsyD Dr. VK Glendari Tutario Rugile Tachtamisevaite Galit Birk, PhD E Nichole Annika Lii Shivangi Patel Meg Lewis Pene Hodge April M. Hamm (she/they) Ellane W Sara Pehrsson Diane Gillespie Claire Elaine miss mojo Wolfie Bain Katie Michaelson Dr. Fatima Imam Autumn Blossom Yan H. Stephen Ray Brown Warren Brown Kathy Mulherin Darren Richardson Ryan DeJonghe Denise G Dr. Marina Harris Marcus Franke Cooking at Home Cristinamiceli Matthew Prince Adam, Diabetic Cyborg Synthia Satkuna, MA Candidate Aravind Balakrishnan Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) Robin G Murphy Anna Tryc Kate Cohen Erin Price-Hale Bianca Zagan Lynn E. O’Connor, PhD Glen J Fergo Darren Lafleur James G Brennan Donna L Roberts, PhD Dr. Preeti Singh Agnes Louis Elena Sunshine Magazine Susannah MacKinnie Rita Hitching Bassey Elimian Terry Mansfield Laine Kaleja Kushal GeesaworScienceDuuude Melissa Gouty kurt gasbarra Bridget Webber Kasun Ranasinghe Vishnu Vijayakumar Vixen Lea The Secret Aspirant Squeeze the Avocado Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 Vishnu*s Virtues Swati Suman Jenine Bsharah Baines Ranjani Rao R Tsambounieri Talarantas Melanie J. William J Spirdione and anyone else who feel inspired to follow and/or play along with this fun #SnSPrompt: Science related to “ body image” or simply a story about “body image”.

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