Love your Body

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had issues with my body. I’ve had issues with my weight, my skin, my hair, even my height. I remember wishing my hair would magically straighten, that my skin would stop breaking out and being so oily and that I would lose weight. I don’t remember ever looking at myself and appreciating my appearance growing up.

My journey to self-love was part of my healing after I left a physically abusive relationship. The way I felt about my body was a lot worse after having experienced abuse. This was the body that was beaten, this was the body that let me down. I had to come to terms with my experience and realize that this was not my fault. I had to love my body and honor it for carrying me across to the other side.

A common effect of many abusive relationships is weight gain, I was about 5 kilograms heavier than my normal weight, adding to my negative self-image. I hated my reflection; I hated the flab on my body and the way my clothes fit. To sooth myself I would eat continuing the cycle.

When I began working on myself the first thing I did was positive self-talk. I read that I should tell myself “you’re amazing and wonderful” but I couldn’t say it. I started with “you’re a good person and kind” and made my way up to “you’re amazing and I love you.”

A lot of exercises in my 11-day self-love challenge are what worked for me and helped me get to where I am – a place where I love myself and my body. Apart from the challenge some things you can do are:

• Focus on the things your body can do rather than what it looks like

• Change your self-talk to appreciating your body rather than criticizing it

• Do things with your body that are fun even if you’re terrible at it (for me that is dancing)

• Treat your body like your best friend

• When you look at other bodies appreciate what makes them different and beautiful

• Appreciate what makes you different and beautiful

• Be loving, be kind and be good to yourself because you are wonderful and deserve love.