The One Thing Keeping You From Loving Your Body

No, it's not the way you eat or how much you exercise. It's not social media or your parents either.

Don't get me wrong, these can be massive influences, but they're not the root of why you don't love your body.

Your thoughts are. See, the average person has around 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. About 95% are the same repetitive thoughts as the day before.  

Let's say you love your body unconditionally until one day, you see a zillion advertisements with a severe lack of diverse body types, ethnicities, ages, and abilities. You start to think, hang on, is that what "perfect" looks like because I don't look like that. That thought is repeated every day and when it rains, it pours so more and more negative thoughts build on top of it.

Garth Kroeker has a metaphor stating that our mind is like a forest with paths up the wazoo. “Some of our forest paths may be well-trodden, but lead us into dangerous territory every time.” It’s not easy to navigate new paths thanks to the familiarity and convenience of the old ones. But we can create new paths, letting the old ones overgrow. How?  

✨ Mindfulness ✨

Think of mindfulness as awareness. Bringing your attention to the present moment and observing your thoughts without judgment. Emphasis on that.

Watch your thoughts as if you’re an audience member at the cinema but in your own brain. You might have not even realised the thought patterns you've created about your body, or how cruel you treat yourself. 

So now, when a negative thought comes, take a step back and think hmmm. Ok. I just had a negative thought. 

First, you can ask why did that come up? Maybe your Instagram feed isn't giving "body positivity and inclusivity". It could be time to do some unfollowing. Maybe your parents keep making snide remarks. Confront them and/or choose to ignore what they say. Remember, you don't have to believe everything you see or hear, in fact, you don't even have to believe everything you think.

Then, ask, what are we gonna do with that?  

I'll tell you what. You're gonna work on a new path. A path that chooses to love your body.

Remember to always compassionately forgive yourself for having a negative thought, or even laugh out loud as if it’s absurd, and then steer your direction to something positive. 

A perfect way to remain positively mindful is through gratitude. I know, I know, it sounds as cringe as your mum’s “live, laugh, love” sign. But by appreciating things more and more, we’re training our brains to build more and more paths that lead us to happiness. We're actively choosing to make those 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts in a day leaning towards the positive.

So express gratitude for your body regularly - it only takes a second. Thank your arms for allowing you to play the guitar. Thank your legs for running so fast you just made it on the bus. Thank your hair for looking so effortlessly baller that day. But hey, it doesn’t have to just be about your bod. Appreciate your life! Your dog, that new song, the weather, your dinner, the beach...    

Maybe you could start a gratitude journal or think of five things you’re stoked about before bed. Maybe you could become more vocal about things you're vibing with and lift the spirits of everyone around you. 

This isn't going to be something you cure overnight, but being aware and mindful of your thoughts and actively striving to build new paths is bold, baller and beautiful. You deserve to love your body, so choose to believe it.