20 Ways to Love Your Body

So...I found a flier, in my "stuff," in my office a few days ago. I have no idea how this flier became visible all the sudden. I have no idea where it came from, or how it got here; but I know it's still applicable to this day! There is a date on the bottom of the flier that says 06/02/2000, so, this flier has been laying dormant, somewhere in this office, until the perfect time for it to come forward.

I wish I would have noticed and taken to heart each number on this flier. I wish I would have understood how important each one of these bullet points really are. I wish I would have opened my heart to loving my body. I was too entrenched in a different paradigm.

So, here it is for you. I hope you will take all of these profound points to heart and feel peace and love for your body.

1. Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.

2. Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.

3. Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.

4. Create a list of people you admire: people who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments.

5. Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.

6. Don't let your weight or shape keep you from activities that you enjoy.

7. Wear comfortable clothes that you like and that feel good to your body.

8. Count your blessings, not your blemishes

9. Think about all the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend worrying about your body and appearance. Try one!

10. Be your body's friend and supporter, not its enemy.

11. Consider this: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every five days, your liver every six weeks, and your skeleton every three months. Your body is extraordinary -- begin to respect and appreciate it.

12. Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day.

13. Every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.

14. Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Do it to make your body healthy and strong, and because it makes you feel good.

15. Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Tell yourself you can feel like that again, even in this body at this age.

16. Keep a list of positive things about yourself--without mentioning your appearance. Add to it!

17. Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying, "I'm beautiful inside and out."

18. Choose to find the beauty in the world and in yourself.

19. Start by saying to yourself, "Life is too short to waste my time on hating my body this way."

20. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty.

Don't weigh your self-esteem.

It's what's inside that counts.

I don't know who the originator of this flier is, but I want to thank them. They understand what is truly important. I think I always knew all of this, but it was so devastating to me to have a little extra weight on my body, I just couldn't get past it. Back in the day, this kind of thinking, this aspect of divine love, was not accessible to me. I was living in my own, self-induced, trauma.

I loved myself enough to change, and I wish this for you too.

With sincere compassion,

Laura