As babies, we’re fascinated, so fascinated by our bodies. I remember when my sons were first born, they would spend hours just looking at their feet. They were entranced by their bodies. They would just stare and giggle at their hands and feet. And as they got older, they would confidently wear two different types of shoes on their feet. Or wear rain boots in the middle of summer and when there was no chance of rain. They did not care about their appearances, or what others might think of them.
Somehow on that path to becoming an "Official Adult" ( I put it in quotation marks because I am not to sure what exactly an official adult means), we start to become critical of our bodies. Instead of appreciating how strong our legs are, we agonize over how our legs look in shorts and whether they jiggle when we run, or if we have cellulite .
When we allow ourselves to partake in body-bashing, we actually do more harm then good. In a recent study that looked at army recruits who needed to lose weight, the study found that the people with self-compassion slimmed down, even under stressful circumstances (i.e serving in the military), while those who had a negative self-image gained weight.
Also, your self-image doesn’t just affect your weight. A recent study showed, that people who had a higher body self image tended to have less depression, have better relationships, and more job satisfaction. And if that wasn't enough they lived longer.
So, bring on the body love, and put it into practice when you look in the mirror.
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