POOR BODY IMAGE IS NOT YOUR FAULT

A client of mine recently expressed how upset she was with herself that she didn't like her body. She knows women who look like her who are comfortable in their skin, so what's wrong with her that she just can't figure it out....

I completely understand that inclination to get down on ourselves and beat ourselves up, we've been trained to do this after all... how many of you feel like when a diet doesn't work out, you've failed?

I rest my case.

The thing is, struggling with poor body image is not another you can't just seem to get right...

Consider for a minute that not liking your body is actually a common reaction to the the world we live in that continually tells us naturally occurring parts of our body (cellulite, stretch marks, fat cells) are gross and we should try to get rid of them at all costs.

The reality is our society does treat people differently on the basis of size and appearance and awards social currency to those who fit the thin/beauty ideal.

Part of the healing process is to shift the way we view the problem...

Away from: What is wrong with me that I can't just like my body, or lose the weight, or stop emotionally eating or whatever...

To: How are people, myself included, genuinely treated differently on the basis of size and appearance. How does this hierarchy of bodies effect me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually? How can I respond to this hierarchy of bodies and my own negative self-talk in more self-loving ways?

When we properly identify the problem (the culture) we can properly identify the solution.

And since you and your body are not the problem, the solution to this starts to look differently.

We no longer need to try to change our bodies to fit into the arbitrary standards, rather we're better off fighting against the oppressive culture that praises some bodies while discriminating against others.

Let's change the world, for you and all women, because our bodies are fine just the way they are!

xo C