Are We Guilty of Self-loathing?

 

 

 

I gotta share something with you:

We hear about Body Image over and over and over, yet we seem not to apply it to Self.  Most women find something in their body image as ‘not enough’ or ‘too much’.  The body can heal from many wounds, but psychological wounding, societal wounding is something that takes a great deal of work.  It is challenging, to say the least, to accept our bodies as they are and being kind to our body (even being grateful) is something given not much thought, considering what miracles it can wrought.  Body Image is not a competition. 

How many of us seek clothes that hide extra pounds?  How many of us buy into beauty products that espouse Youth?  We become what we think of ourselves.  We become how we feel about our body.  We forget the Perfect does not exist. 

As well, it is not stagnant.  It changes moment by moment, it seems.    We are always a work in progress.  Thus, if our focus is negative, then that gets more and more difficult to stay positive.  We can always find things that displease us.  If we are constantly degrading our body, we will not be able to send off positive energy into the ether.  The negative self-concept can be a writing thing within.  It stains our ability to fully be ourselves.  It keeps us comparing ourselves.  It affects how you relate to others.  It robs us of our own happiness.  It can take away your joy. 

I am working on that, now that I have moved.  I have only me to worry about and I can spend more time trying to find grace and dignity, even self-acceptation of how I look on the outside so I can feel acceptance skin deep. And allowing that to begin to subdue my sense of my scarred up, bruise, muffin-topped wrinkled body.  It is going to take work. But I am getting there, bit by bit, step by step:

·        I will accept my body, wrinkles and all.

·       I will not allow myself to think negatively of my muffin-top.

·       I will stop wearing clothes two sizes too big.

·       I will stop feeling conspicuous.  It’s not all about me.

·       I will simply believe in myself…that I am a gift to the world...and get busy doing what I know is my purpose.     

©Carol Desjarlais 9.18.25