Let's Talk Self-Love

I originally wrote this for a guest blog post on Simple Healthy Eats, after Bree reached out and asked me to contribute! Such an awesome opportunity :) I figured I'd share the post here as well, but definitely head over to her page too!

http://www.simplehealthyeats.com/2017/02/19/self-love-ultimate-super-power/

Now for that post I promised!!

Let’s talk self-love.

Okay okay relax, don’t “x” out of this post. What is it about self-love that makes people uncomfortable? When did our society decide to emphasize picking ourselves apart instead of appreciating what’s there? Why do so many young women refuse to be confident in who they are right NOW?

I’m here to remind you to love yourself, every bit and piece that you are and that you will grow into. You only get one body, one soul, and one life. Hating yourself takes so much energy. Aren’t you exhausted? Aren’t you tired of constantly wishing you were someone else? All of that energy that you’re putting into self-hate should be used to pursue goals instead. You’re wasting so much time picking yourself apart. Criticizing every aspect.

I spent 4 years battling an ED, constantly in a war against my mind which would work day in and day out to break me down. According to my disorder, I was ugly, I was dumb, I was incapable of caring for myself, I was immature, I was worthless with no purpose. I dug myself deeper and deeper into my illness because I saw no reason to save myself. Until I realized everything I could have.

You see, once it hit me that in health and in happiness I could be so much, have so much, see so much...that was when I realized I couldn’t go on hating myself. I had flaws and I had to accept that. The reason my disorder began in the first place was because I was desperate to fine-tune parts of my body that I felt society hated, and therefore I hated them too. My disorder began because I hated myself, and thrived because I continued to do so. Only when I realized that I was worth so much more than my appearance was when I was able to truly heal.

Today I live in complete gratitude for my body. I’m so incredibly thankful for the life it allows me to live. I’m a fun-loving, happy, healthy, radiant college freshman ready to take on the world. My body is ready. Finally. After years of harm, I’m simply grateful to be alive. My body is mine, no matter what happens. I have to appreciate all that it does for me and how hard it fights for me. Your body is your best friend. Treat it with the respect it deserves. So WHAT you don’t have the same body as her? So WHAT your legs look a certain way, or you have a stomach that society doesn’t praise? SO WHATTTTTTTTT.

Geez, I wish I could go back in time and just shake myself for ever giving into societal pressures about my body. You need to love yourself, or else nobody else can. You are so damn special. Every single one of you. It scares me that there are young women out there that can’t name one thing they like about themselves. It pains me to think that there are people out there that I love more than they love themselves. It’s okay to not be 100% confident all of them time. Arrogance isn’t the answer. Like everything else in life, you need to strike a balance. Hold yourself high, pride yourself in your abilities, and embrace your flaws. Know your worth and stand for it, always.

Loving yourself is the hardest thing you will do, but once you begin, you can’t stop. It’s a practice that will stick with you for the rest of your life. That’s how powerful it is. I constantly remind myself that while there are parts of my body I’m not thrilled about, I’m damn lucky to have a body that works and that allows me to be alive. To live to see another day.

I live a life that is so much more than my appearance. This, in my opinion, is the true key to overcoming body shaming. Once your priorities and focus are shifted towards bigger pictures than your outward appearance, you begin to put those concerns on the back burner. I’ve turned my focus over to passions. I love to lift weights and get stronger, testing my limits and trying out new experiences in fitness. I do this for the thrill and the high, the love for improvement, as opposed to aesthetic goals. I have a passion for cooking and healthful food, and have turned my attention to creating new recipes and trying new products that make me happy. I recently started college, and have invested myself in new areas of study and being active on campus. I put my energy into travelling into the city and seeing new places, to hanging out with friends, to volunteering, etc. I have other things in my life to worry about other than my body and what it looks like. There is so much to live for. You have so much potential to accomplish great feats. Stop worrying about what your body looks like. Your outward appearance is no indication of how great of a person you are.

Learn to love yourself. Practice complimenting yourself, reminding yourself of your strengths and talents. Never forget how special you are, how much potential you have, how capable you are. Consistency is key. Walk with confidence, radiate confidence. Be strong not just for others’ sake, but for YOURSELF. Love yourself more with each passing day. Looks are nothing in the grand scheme of your life.

Self-love is the ultimate superpower.

So go on, put on your cape. You have body shaming battles to fight, one bit of self-love at a time.

Sending love!