I Pee’d My Pants Yesterday
It wasn't a full on pee, but any woman who's had children understands what I'm talking about. I felt rather fortunate that it was just a little bit of pee...because honestly, it could have been much worse! But that's not the point...
The point is, human bodies are interesting. And unpredictable. And sometimes, a complete mystery. It's tragic that many humans never get to know their body on an intimate level, despite spending an entire lifetime in the same body!
Even more tragic is the fact that a lot of people--especially women--spend the bulk of their lives hating their bodies rather than appreciating the miracle that it is. One study showed that up to 81% of adolescent girls and up to 90% of adult women are dissatisfied with the way they look! They focus on weight, or skin, or hair, or the size and shape of their body parts instead of acknowledging all of the incredible things the body is capable of doing.
Do you fit into that category? Do you hate your body? If so, you're not alone. In fact, according to the research, you're pretty normal! But the chances are that your body is probably pretty normal, too. And maybe it's time to shift your self-talk to something more nourishing.
The truth is, you can't hate yourself to change because it's human nature to ignore or abuse the things we hate. So, if you focus on how much you hate your body, it's likely to only get worse.
Instead, try asking yourself these questions:
**What would change if I actively focused on loving my body exactly as it is right now?
**What do I like about myself?
**What essential tasks does my body perform for me every day?
**What is one simple thing I can do today to take better care of my body?
When I pee'd my pants yesterday, I was in the grocery store. In the past, I would have been mortified and proceeded to beat myself up! But these days, I'm finding reasons to love myself instead. So I reminded myself that I've given birth 5 times...and carrying those babies did quite a number on my body! AND I'm grateful for those babies who are now grown, some with babies of their own (who I also adore) and I wouldn't change a thing!
So, instead of getting embarrassed and shaming myself, I finished my shopping with a smile on my face as I thought about my amazing family. Then I went home and changed my pants!
Do you struggle with body image, too? What do you do when your inner mean girl chimes in with negative messages about your body? And what could you do to start shifting those messages to something more positive instead?
