Overcoming Negative Body Image: True Beauty Starts Within

As a young girl, the fact that females had value mainly for their bodies, engraved itself in my mind. In my heart.

It shaped my belief system. Stealing so much of who I was for too many years. And it was learned, purposefully exposed to me as an example.

The idea that big boobs and butts and impossibly thin silhouettes influence our self-worth?

Tragic.

Two years ago I made powerful strides. Breakthroughs. But didn’t totally fix the problem.

Why do I struggle with body image?

You are not enough. Your body is ugly, and you are a failure because it is YOUR fault that it got that way. You can never be a beautiful and worthwhile woman unless you are thin. Your chins and belly make you a disgrace.

Or on the other spectrum, Why are my arms so scrawny? These chicken legs are so unsexy. If only I had more cushion…

Even on the road to long-term recovery, some old beliefs wormed their way back into my life. Temporarily crushing me.

While dress shopping with my Mom the other day, she said: “I wish I had your confidence”.

Yeah, me too.

How to overcome body shame

There are times when I live in awe of this body, its capabilities. Other times I just talk the talk, hoping I believe it.

I am coming to the conclusion that there will be a few steps forward, a few back.

But hear me, sisters… there will be no standing still.

No stagnant living.

You know what I mean. The winter spare tire, the apathy, and postponement of healthy choices.

Waging war in defense of our own body

It is so very hard to change the lies you’ve heard. To shut off our own brains, when we tend to believe the ugly words.

Perhaps that accounts for why my last body image post is still among the most popular on this blog.

The truth is, sadly, that I knew very few (if any) women that embrace their body. That live in gratitude for its continual gift of movement and life.

That needs to change.

Let’s wage war for our bodies, instead of against them.

We are amazing creatures, God’s own design.

He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love–Zephaniah 3:17

This disbelief that we are possibly enough now? It is a powerful weapon that we use –against ourselves!

No more.

We have daughters who listen; what are they hearing? We have girls who look up to us; what are we teaching?

If we are blessed to have life partners…does our battle with body image affect our marriage? You betcha. In more ways than we can understand. (I could write many posts on this alone!)