Have you ever gone shopping and found the perfect piece of clothing and bought it in a smaller size as motivation to lose weight? Then you didn’t lose the weight and found that piece of clothing in your closet months later feeling disappointed and discouraged in yourself. Or maybe you didn’t buy that piece of clothing or bought something cheaper because you want to wait until you lose weight to buy yourself nice things.
What about declining an invitation to a social event because you don’t have anything to wear or just feel you don’t look good enough? You don’t want them to see you right now.
Maybe you wear baggy, cheap clothing because you think you just don’t deserve to buy something nice.
You choose not to participate in an activity, even though you are capable of doing it, you don’t want to do it because you feel embarrassed about how you look or how well (or awful, rather) you may do the activity.
How about when you eat that whole bag of cookies, chips, or carton of ice cream, because changing just isn’t possible…because you already ate terribly today, so what’s a little more?
Oh boy, I have done all of these things! I have waited and waited and waited to be just right in my body. I have had times in my life when I was more fit, and times when I was more flabby. I have belittled and berated myself. I have hidden, and criticized, and hated myself. For what purpose?! Because society says we are only beautiful if we look a certain way. Bah! No more.
Don’t wait for the body you want, love the body you have. Don’t wait for the body you want in order to live life! Your body, right now, is your vehicle. When you get up in the morning, swing your legs over the side of the bed, and plant your feet on the floor, experience the deep gratitude of being able to do that. Don’t wait for the body you want, to buy clothing that is suitable to you, that you feel good wearing, and looks nice on you. Don’t wait for the body you want to go practice yoga, or take up a sport, or go the gym, or go for a walk in nature. Don’t wait for the body you want to meet people, to make new friends, and to even being open to letting someone love you. Yes, you are loveable and someone loves you.
Love and accept yourself now, just the way you are. That doesn’t mean doing nothing if there is something you want to change. Go ahead and work towards those changes. You will feel much better. Go ahead and make healthy food choices. Go ahead and get some exercise. Go ahead and do things that are good for you. If you do something that goes against those efforts, don’t be cruel to yourself. Instead, count your successes. Today, I did some yoga, I ate three healthy meals, but, I also had a candy bar. Should I be cruel to myself because I ate one bad thing today? Should I only focus on that one bad thing and neglect to praise myself for all the good efforts I made? No. I used to do this. I don’t anymore. I also don’t eat candy bars anymore. You know why? Because I stopped putting myself down. Because eating sugar makes me feel like crap and I just don’t want it anymore. That doesn’t mean I may never eat candy or sugar again, but mostly, I eat healthy foods, because I feel better. When I feel better, I have the energy to do the things I want to do. I’m not wasting energy by thinking all those cruel thoughts in my mind and throwing daggers at myself. When I have a good meal in front of me, I express gratitude for the food. How lucky I am to be able to eat a meal of salmon, fresh greens, and sweet potato. I am so very fortunate to have good food to eat and a body that gets me around in this life.
Be kind to yourself. Love yourself, now, just as you are. You are worth every bit of loving energy you can give yourself. <3