I swore I'd never diet, I'd never be fat, never dislike my body, never struggle with what I saw my mom struggle with. And maybe it's because I swore I'd never do any of that that I somehow made it my own problem. Luckily, I found a way out. This blog is for you if you, too, want to find a way to lift the heaviness of not feeling at home in your body. A reassuring note: for my work, it’s necessary to go to the deep, sticky, painful places, but I always come back up to the light and warmth. If you're already triggered: take a deep breath. In... and out... It's ok to feel uncomfortable. Bravery and willingness are essential, and it's ok if you're not ready to go there. Come back when you are ready. A day in my life: Sometimes I wake up and feel like a goddess. Like frickin' Beyonce on the set of some bad ass music video. I flip my hair, and do a dance in the mirror, I walk with the proud chest of a lioness (or something else majestic) as I go get my cup of tea, and I feel invincible. Like everything is just working out for me. And then, something happens... The day goes by, and the seductive pain of comparison creeps in. I find myself listening to these insidious thoughts that seem surface-level at first glance:
Why aren't you skinnier? Your arms will never look like that. I bet she can date whoever she wants to, look at how flawless she is. You can't wear those kinds of shirts, you'll look like a sausage. Blah blah blah. It's annoying. It's horrifying. We've all heard this narrative either in our own minds, or reflected back to us in blog posts like this or other media outlets. I'm sick of it. I'm not here to analyze the horror story we create of self-loathing and bad body image. I'm here to tear it apart:
Pardon my irreverence. I know this can be an incredibly sensitive issue. I honor the sensitivity of it, in that I honor you and your human experience. Human beings are precious, with all our layers, our soft underbellies, our intricate minds, and willingness to keep trying. You are precious; your story isn’t. The negative body images we’ve internalized are just illusions. When I look at you, I see you, and I see your story. They are not the same thing. I have so much compassion for the pain of this story. I look forward to sharing it with you. *** I welcome you if you are ready to let go of the story you have about your body, your diet, your exercise, and how valuable you are. It doesn’t have to be a struggle. You can feel authentically great. One of the greatest sadnesses, is a life unlived. Don’t let your body image be what keeps you from living your life. - Warmly, Makayla
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Author:Makayla McDonald is a Body Image Coach who lives in Boulder, Colorado. She is passionate about connecting to freedom and peace for herself and for all of her community! Archives
October 2016
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