The Power of Self-Love: Cultivating Body Acceptance
Would it be too romantic to think that people can develop self-love for their physical selves? As I began to write on accepting one's body, this question became increasingly pressing. I don't know why I keep thinking about this. Some say that authors put down on paper the things they would like to know. And learning to love my body has been an ongoing, ongoing journey.
With that said, I will share what I know (or hope to learn) about embracing our bodies. The first step is to accept it. There are, in my opinion, three main steps to embracing one's body:
First Things First: Accept Yourself As You Are
Finding inner calm is the first step toward body acceptance. Certainly, we could all use a little something different about our bodies, but is there any truth to this? So, to start, ask yourself, "What part of my body needs to learn to accept itself?" A journal is a great tool for me while trying to put words to my emotions. Write down your response to this question when you are ready. Evaluate your responses: Are there any ways you might express gratitude for the things you possess? You have a unique body; what talents can you offer the world? Also, jot down these responses.
Consider this one-of-a-kind case: I used to stand head and shoulders above my classmates. I was uprooted. No matter how much I slouched and slumped, my stature remained relatively unchanged. My back hurt like hell, I discovered. People were always inquiring, "What's wrong?" yet that was the most critical thing. "Are you depressed?" After some time had passed, I started to see the positive aspects of my height and how my body language added to my negative self-expression.
Step Two: Master the Art of Nonverbal Communication
I now get to the second portion of our three-part equation: Tell me what your posture says about who you are. Nonverbal cues convey meaning. One can learn a great deal about a person by observing their nonverbal cues. Deliberately consider: How does your body language convey your personality? Examine this: Are your arms crossed and your posture slouched? Would you agree that your posture could be better? In addition to putting unnecessary strain on internal organs, slouching sends a message that you're not content with yourself.
According to Julius Fast's best-selling book, Body Language: The Essential Secrets of Non-Verbal Communication, body language is a well-established scientific theory. The field of "Kinesics," which studies body language scientifically, has shown that nonverbal cues can conflict with what people say. A person's body language can convey a negative message in a number of ways, including the following:
• Slouching • Crossed arms • Head turned away
Positive body language may be shown in a variety of ways as well, including making direct eye contact, maintaining an upright posture, and exuding self-assurance. Here is a hilarious compilation of body signals:
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Step Three: Identify Your Strength and Allow It to Grow
It becomes more challenging in Step Three. Finding something you love about yourself is the goal of this phase, but I think we could all identify things we "like" in ourselves. Start with your journal once more. Find out what you appreciate most about yourself by taking a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror. Maybe a teaspoon of acceptance might reveal a multitude of features. Every day, make an effort to focus on the good qualities that you possess.
Take my own hair as an example; it's big, curly, and difficult. I wore a hat to bed every night and ironed it until it was perfectly straight when I was a kid. Anything goes! In the 1980s, I came to terms with the fact that I was squandering a lot of time. Please tell me why I couldn't simply take the situation as it was. "Alright, I surrender!" I finally said one day. (I was able to make up my mind with the aid of Cher's wiry hair, thank goodness). Step Three, B follows:
Seek Out an Example: I'm not one to think that people should seek out famous people or the media as a source of heavenly inspiration. Still, no matter the angle from which I view their message, I am constantly seeking for role models to emulate. In my experience, angels and guides are always there to teach us what we need to know, and they wait for us to receive their lessons.
The only thing we need to do is become aware of our surroundings and search outside of ourselves for this. Take a peek around. Who is the bearer of this message to you? My brother is a great source of motivation for me. Spina bifida is a paralysis birth abnormality that I've spoken about before. Despite his inability to move around, he has a profound affection for his body and is thankful to it for letting him work and live. Because of this, my hair problem doesn't appear so bad.
In Conclusion:
I make an effort to be grateful to my body for the independence it provides me with on a daily basis. I accomplish this in a variety of ways, one of which is by writing in my journal and reflecting on my thoughts and feelings after each workout. While it's true that learning to love one's body and oneself will be an ongoing journey, I do my best to distinguish between genuine and inauthentic sources of irritation. Strive to put aside egocentric ideas; that is what I tell myself to you. Allow yourself the liberty to adore and embrace yourself precisely as you were made.
Research Questions for the Journal:
Does your body currently have any portion that you can embrace and cherish without reservation?
What about tomorrow? Can you think of something else about your body that you're grateful for?
