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Healthy Helper

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Live In Your Body

A discussion on working towards body neutrality by accepting our bodies for what they are and being proud of them for doing some much for us on a daily basis.

The human body.

A truly miraculous machine. The daily the functions it performs to keep us running, to keep us ALIVE, are awe inspiring.

Our bodies are the only true home we’ll ever have. They give us our place in the world and keep our true essence safe and protected. With all our bodies do for us on a daily basis, you’d think we would revere them, treat them with respect, and do everything we can to take care of them properly.

Unfortunately, most people, especially women, spend their whole lives trying to disconnect from their bodies. They want to change them, make them more like those perpetuated by the media, and berate them for living up to unachievable aesthetic standards set forth by mainstream society.

The negativity we feel towards our bodies engulfs our spirit, clouds our minds with hateful judgements, and makes living with ourselves almost impossible. We try to separate ourselves as much as we can from the one thing that gives us life and in doing so we stop ourselves from living fully.

Think about it! How can we truly embrace all life has to offer if we can’t accept (or at least TOLERATE!) the one thing that’s allowing us to experience it.

On a recent podcast I was listening to the guest who was being interviewed was asked what one piece of advice she would give to people struggling with body image and self acceptance. She answered simply “live in your body”.

What an idea.

Live in Your Body | A discussion on working towards body neutrality by accepting our bodies for what they are and being proud of them for doing some much for us on a daily basis.

Live in Your Body

She didn’t preach body love or that you should feel great about EVERY part of your body EVERY day. Simply, LIVE IN YOUR BODY. Accept it for what it is and acknowledge it for what it does. Reconnect with the subtle messages it gives you on a daily basis. Too often we try to quiet the signs our bodies are giving us in an effort to communicate with us. We actively ignore the sensations they want us to feel.

Well, I have a proposal. What if we tuned in, turned the volume up, and fully embraced what it’s really like to inhabit our bodies?

What if we…

Let our thighs squish together as we plopped down on a chair without criticizing them for touching?

Felt our hearts race at the end of an exhilarating run and were thankful for all it allows us to do?

Performed self-care instead of self-harm?

Felt our stomachs expand after a delicious, full meal without judgement or demonizing the food?

Let our mouths AND our stomachs enjoy food instead of viewing it as an unwanted necessity of being human?

Allowed people to really hug us…a huge, all-encompassing bear hug instead of trying to hide our size and shape?

Let our arms jiggle as we waved to a friend without feeling self-conscious or having to justify their appearance?

Honored when we’re tired and let ourselves sleep in or take a nap?

Lived with inevitable bloat that everyone faces at some point or another without feeling the need to cut out a food group or claim an allergy?

Felt the shake of our muscles as we lifted a weight and were reminded of that feeling of strength next time we had to lift something heavy in our everyday life?

Wore clothes that really flattered us instead of trying to cover the parts we’re ashamed of?

Looked in the mirror and smiled instead of looking mournfully on everything we’re not?

Ate when our body said it’s hungry and drank when our body said it’s thirsty instead of waiting for prescribed eating times or restricting ourselves to certain amounts?

Celebrated our bodies instead of picking at the parts we don’t like?

Acknowledged our stomach’s growling and nourished it with food instead of trying to quiet it with water?

Focused in on our breath and let its rhythmic flow calm us?

Embraced our laugh lines and smile marks instead of trying to cover them up with thick makeup and injections?

Unclenched our bellies and stopped worrying about how much space they’re taking up in the world?

Touched our bodies lovingly and spoke to them like we’d speak to a good friend?

Because that’s what they are. Our bodies are our greatest companions. They’ll always be with us and they always have been here for us. It’s time we stop trying to detach from them and learn to embrace the beautiful life that we’re able to live inside of them.

Live in Your Body

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Do you find yourself trying to disconnect from your body’s physical and mental sensations?

When are you most present in your body?

What can you do to be more present in your body TODAY?

 
 
 
 
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57 responses to “Live In Your Body”

  1. This is beautiful, Kaila!
    I’ve had my ups and downs with my body (& downright hating it at times), but once I simply appreciated it for what it can do, it got better. Pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing were a huge turning point; I mean, how amazing that it created, nourished, and nurtured another human?!?!
    I used to be all about preaching body love, but that felt dishonest. I choose now to focus on how my body feels, where it takes me, and how strong it is. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply

    • YES! Exactly. Body love is not achievable for everyone…but some level of ACCEPTANCE is. And it is so important given all our bodies do for us everyday! They truly are amazing!

      Reply

  2. Love this post Kaila, it’s so well written and this is a subject that really hits home for me. I’ve always struggled with accepting my body, but appreciating it for all it does is something I’m finallllllly able to do (most days). I feel most connected when I’m in nature! Being surrounded by trees, fresh air, flowers, and all the noises in nature make me feel amazing.

    Reply

  4. I’ve had problems with my perception of my weight for years. And what’s sad is that it’s truly something that every woman goes through. Your post really gives me peace of mind that my body is great because I live in it! Honestly, very powerful piece.
    x Sola

    Reply

  7. This is such a beautiful post. Its a reminder and a wake up call for all of us. Thank you for sharing it in the #TheHappyHomeLife link party or I would have missed it. Look forward to reading more of your blog! Pinning!

    Reply

  8. This is absolutely beautiful! As a recovering anorexic and bulimic, I know all too well what it feels like to look negatively at yourself. But I have such a healthy relationship with my body now, and I LOVE IT! It’s taken years to accept, but it’s so liberating.

    Reply

    • Unfortunately it was so long ago that I can’t remember specifically! I think it might have been an early episode of Fearless Rebelle Radio with Summer Innanen…or The Wellness Wonderland with Katie Dalebout! I will try to do some looking into it and see if I can find it again! I listen to WAAAAAY too many podcasts! LOL

      Reply

  11. Thank you so much for this post! I think at one time or another we all need to hear this. I have struggled with this my whole life. Strangely, the only times I have “lived in” my body were during my two pregnancies and while I was breastfeeding. I accepted my body and was grateful for the two beautiful miracles that it created and fed. Following this advice routinely is amazing! Thank you for sharing at the Healthy Living Link Party!

    Reply

  12. There was a time when we did live in our bodies as we were meant to, and sometime I wish we could just go back to those times (as kids). Why does culture have to mess everything up!

    Reply

  13. Love this post, girl. I hope you’ll start truly living this way…your body will be so grateful when you surrender and give it the love it deserves. <3 <3 <3

    Reply

  14. I’m old enough that I finally do a lot of these things. After awhile, I stopped fighting gravity and weight gain and decided to enjoy life in my body however it looks. (See my arms jiggle?) But this is the second time today I’ve read an article saying almost exactly the same thing, so I’m paying attention.

    I have a tendency to spend far too many hours at the computer and not enough giving my body the opportunity to move and enjoy moving and breathing deeply. I’ll pay more attention to that, as soon as I finish this comment.

    That answers two of your questions. As for your other question: I’m most present with my body when I’m giving myself a Reiki treatment. Boy, does that feel good.

    Reply

  15. Great advice! I look at pictures of myself from my 20s when I always felt so fat and I say, Man, I wish I was that “fat” now. I’m more into being healthy now and not worrying about the jiggles and wrinkles that just “are.” Thanks for sharing on My Flagstaff Home!

    Jennifer

    Reply

  16. Hi Kaila,
    You have some very good advice here and we would all be happier if we learned to appreciate our selves instead of trying to change what and who we are. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!

    Reply

  18. Oh man, this really hit home for me. Just last weekend my husband and I had our annual photos done which was fun to do. Then I saw the little sneak peak of a couple of them and immediately began picking myself apart and then I felt miserable. What struck me about a lot of the examples you gave were that they came from the same place as mindfulness – the acknowledgement without the judgement. I know I’ve got to change my own mindset.

    Reply

  24. This is a BEAUTIFUL post! As someone who struggled for years and recently started a journey towards self love, this post really resonated with me! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
    & thank you for joining us at #Saucy Saturdays!

    Reply

  27. If only this attitude could be learnt! I`m really self-conscious about so many things and in the end don`t have time to focus on beautiful things in life. But this post gives a really good motivation so I`ll try

    Reply

  33. I love this SO MUCH! As a nutritionist and wellness blogger myself, I see so much value in a post such as this. Self-love is SO important and people need to hear that more often…we need to start pushing people to work on adapting a healthier mindset before even thinking about their diets! My goal is to spread encouragement and self acceptance in others and I can see yours is too, so refreshing to see. You officially have a new fan! =)

    Reply

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