My body is... an object to manage?
How do we treat our bodies?
- manage them
- fix them
- limit them
- control them
- tame them
- work them
- disconnect from them
- shame them
- judge them
- push them harder
We disconnect from our bodies and treat them like objects, like tools, to meet our other needs:
- to feel like we belong
- to feel approved of
- to feel competent
- to avoid shame
- to fit into a group
- to feel emotionally filled up
- to avoid painful feelings
What if instead of working our bodies till they fit the image we want, we find another way?
My Body is Me
What if we use different words to relate to our bodies? What if we treat them like we treat our friends? With love and compassion. With understanding and support. Then we would use other words.
Words like:
- know
- understand
- listen
- befriend
- support
What if your body became a friend instead of an enemy? Something to support instead of something to manage?
How would your life be different?
You can still make your plans to work out more and eat healthier. Those might be great goals for you. Just check in with your body first. And keep checking in with your body. One day you might need more sleep instead of time at the gym. Your body will let you know what it needs if you listen to it.
Last year, when I listened to my body, what kept coming to the surface was the word Ease. My intention for that year became ease in my body - less tension, anxiety, etc. Through my personal growth work, that has happened. And it’s amazing. What would it be like to choose an intention like that for yourself?
Loving My Body
To begin changing your relationship with your body, start with the poem: Dear Body, I’m sorry, I love you by Hillary McBride. (Then get her book The Wisdom of Your Body - it is a must read for anyone wanting a more embodied life.)
What do you want to tell your body? What does it want to tell you? Can you decide together what is best for you instead of imposing unrealistic expectations on it?
I’d love to hear about what your body is telling you, or what you’d like to say to your body. Just email me. I’d love to hear it.
p.s. If you want more resources, here are some books and people to follow:
- Hillary McBride (mentioned above): The Wisdom of Your Body
- Sonja Renee Taylor: The Body is Not An Apology
- Sonja Renee Taylor: 10 Tools For Radical Self-Love
- Tammy Chow
- Burnout
