Welcome to Day 1 of shine: a 31 day guide to embracing your authentic, beautiful self so you can be lit from within to live your passion and purpose and give your gifts to the world!
I am so thrilled that we are taking this journey towards greater self-acceptance together. Today is all about making the decision to be more self-accepting. And we will spark our conscientiousness by signing the Body Warrior Pledge I wrote years ago in celebration of Love Your Body Day (which, really, should be every day).
The Body Warrior Pledge
Because I understand that my love and respect for my body are metaphors of my love and respect for my self and soul, I pledge to do the following:
To stop berating my body and to begin celebrating the vessel that I have been given. I will remember the amazing things my body has given me: the ability to experience the world with a breadth of senses, the ability to perceive and express love, the ability to comfort and soothe, and the ability to fight, provide, and care for humanity.
To understand that my body is an opportunity not a scapegoat.
To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth.
To let envy dissipate and allow admiration to be a source of compassion by offering compliments to others.
To gently but firmly stand up for myself when someone says to me (or I say to myself) something harmful.
To change the inner-monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections.
To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.
To see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body.
To understand that my weight is not good or bad. It is just a number, and I am only good.
To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.
To recognize my body’s strengths.
To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body.
To understand that a body, just like a personality, is a fingerprint: a wonderful embodiment of my own uniqueness.
Today: Pledge your desire to champion yourself by hitting the comments section below, sharing with us two things:
1. Which statement do you need to make the MOST conscious commitment to embrace?
2. Which statement do you want to celebrate as already being a part of your life in some way?
Remember your comment noting your participation gets you an entry in the great giveaways!
Excited about this journey? Want more? Pick up Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance for a year long plan and guidance.
I most need to embrace not berating my body. Also, though I have incorporated good nutrition, rest, nurturing things, exercise, etc., I need to change my thinking of excercise as something that is loving and not putting my body under control. I have found confidence in myself in the last couple of years, and for that I am grateful. It has allowed me to make drastic life changes.
MAP, what a wonderful start! It can be really hard to go those good nurturing things like sleep, nutrition, rest, etc. so I am celebrating your commitment to nurturing and honoring yourself. In terms of changing your thinking about exercise, I encourage you to find a couple things that you really enjoy and that feel more like a gift than a punishment. Some common things I hear are yoga, Zumba, walking, water aerobics, working with Kettleballs, kayaking, stand up paddling. It could be a fun regular adventure to try things until you find what absolutely makes you happy. Please do come back and share your journey in finding that/ those thing(s). Have a wonderful day as you move towards embracing your body (image) warrior.
Ahhhh! Rosie, I’m SO excited to do this – yay! 😀
Sorry I got all excited and commented BEFORE getting to the end of the post!
1. It’s so hard for me to choose just one to focus on. I think I need to work most on changing my inner monologue – I am absolutely horrid to myself inside my head (embarrassingly so).
2. I can celebrate my empathy and compassion: I very, very rarely ever feel envious of others.
Cheebs, have you ever tried writing down the words that you say to yourself in a notebook of some sort? You might be able to conquer some of those thoughts if you write them down and then absolutely negate them in that same notebook page. It helped me with some catastrophic thinking I was doing at one point in my life.
Thanks, love. <3
Cheebs, So glad you are here. I think Sarah makes a powerful suggestion for getting started and changing that tape. I also think it can be helpful to come up with a response sentence that you are going to say to yourself every time the statement comes up. Set a boundary with you the same way you would set a boundary with someone else that stops the rant in its track because you interrupt yourself while teaching you how to treat you. Finally, we’ll be dealing with this more directly in a few days and that exercise might help, too. Keep us posted on your journey with this as we move forward!
I will give this a shot! Thanks, ladies! 🙂
I saw this post in my reader and I was thrilled. I will have to commit most to the effort to see potential–and sometimes that’s even more about my work than my body. The most fully incorporated for me is the nourishment–I celebrate my fruits and vegetables and I’m a water fiend.
Ann, so glad you are participating! Do you mean seeing the potential of what you are capable of in the work that you do? What you do is so powerful; I definitely see that potential!
This post is just what I needed- just at this moment!
I believe that I really need to change my thinking to see the possibility, potential, & blessings in all things. I get in my own way- I’m not sure where this learned helplessness has come from. I can focus on changing those thoughts and everything else is liable to fall into place.
I am proud of my recent commitment to understanding what my body can do. Running has helped me to push limits and feel more inside my whole body- I spend so much time in my head that i forrget I have one sometimes.
So glad to have stumbled upon this today. I’ll be following along!
So glad to have you here, sashalyn. Isn’t it funny how sometimes what we most need appears right when we need it? So glad that shine serendipitously appeared when you needed it! It’s great that you have recognized the challenge you set for yourself. It can even become a question for yourself as you go through life, “How am I getting in my way right now?” And I also love that running has connected you to your body. Glad you are here and look forward to further connecting!
1. I absolutely know that I need to work specifically on seeing “exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body.” Right now I look at exercise as some sort of “punishment” that I _have_ to do, and I want to look at it as something GOOD I do and something POSITIVE I can look forward to.
2. In the past year I’ve learned to really realize that I am “the primary source of my confidence.” I stopped relying on others to define my worth at the end of my last serious relationship and have only pushed myself further to continue thinking about myself in that way.
I am SUPER excited to be signing this Body Warrior Pledge. 🙂
Sarah, Glad you are here! Assignment # 1 is to get really clear on what movement you love vs. don’t love. If you don’t know what you love, start today by trying all sorts of things to see what speaks to you and makes all of you happy (also see my response to MAP above). Sometimes, you can ask a friend if you can go along with him/ her to their favorite workout. I just know you are going to find the thing that makes your mind and body glad (as a former high school teacher, I can tell you that it is absolutely a must to have something like this as an educator who can give until she gives out unless there is very deliberate care incorporated). When does school start? You are going to be an all star!
Honestly, the statement to let envy dissipate and allow admiration – as a plus-sized person when I do that, I often get pity (which I do not want) and then I get angry. sigh, so this one needs work.
What I celebrate already is my body’s amazing capacity for healing and growth and stretching etc. I have been in a major car accident that I was able to heal from amazingly well, and I also have had five pregnancies and births, and my body was amazing at that. I home birthed and breastfed and had the strength to carry those children in my arms and on my back for years. I was injured last summer when a rogue wave slammed me onto the beach and my left arm was severely dislocated. I am extremely grateful for the resilience of my body to heal and allow me the full use and (almost now) full strength and range of use in that arm. My body has not me down yet, but sadly i cannot say the same for myself. Time to change that. Howaa (thank you in Haida)
Julie, so glad you are here, and I appreciate your honest sharing. I am so intrigued by the challenge you find in complimenting others. What I want to tell you is that response really has to do with the other person has going on and not you; but there must be a way that you can offer another person a compliment without having him or her believe that it makes you sad about your situation. Perhaps you could go with a shorter delivery, “Oh my goodness that dress is great on you!” while also emphasizing the you part of it. Let’s get this figured out so that you can be gracious to others without having it made into something for you to worry about.
And, yes, it does sound like your body is just so strong and resilient. What a gift. As are you.
I am excited about this too, Rosie! I am still mulling over the pledge…the whole thing is pretty powerful. I think I really need to focus on giving my body what it needs. I am glad to say that the thing I can celebrate as already a part of my life is that I am the source of my own self confidence. But the statement about not waiting around to do things in a different body really hit home!
So glad to have you here, Em. You know, you might benefit from writing a wellness prescription- that could be a good system to help you give your body what it needs. Here’s a link to a post explaining the concept: https://rosiemolinary.com/2011/11/28/preparing-for-the-new-year-writing-a-wellness-prescription/ And don’t wait. You are perfect right now. Go tackle everything you’ve ever wanted to do!
I have to work consciously to embrace the fact that I must love my body and myself today, just as I am.
I have already incorporated no longer putting off the things I want to do because I’m waiting for a different body. I’ve joined new groups, started to socialize more and I began a fitness routine two months ago.
So glad you are here, Mona and I love how you have deliberately grown your world. You go!
“To stop berating my body and to begin celebrating the vessel that I have been given. I will remember the amazing things my body has given me: the ability to experience the world with a breadth of senses, the ability to perceive and express love, the ability to comfort and soothe, and the ability to fight, provide, and care for humanity.” This is the hardest one for me! It’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks! I need this one tattooed on my forehead, I think!
However, I am happy to say that I am actively working on this: “To gently but firmly stand up for myself when someone says to me (or I say to myself) something harmful.” It’s come late to me, but I’m so much better at this than I used to be!
I’m looking forward to celebrating me over the next month, Rosie! Thank you!
So glad you are here, Kip, and that you are actively working on creating your boundaries with others. That’s awesome. Now, you have to create those boundaries with yourself. No berating. We’ll talk more about that in a few days here!
1. Which statement do you need to make the MOST conscious commitment to embrace?
To understand that my weight is just a number and does not set my value as a person.
I tend to look at the number on the scale and then my day is decided from that..if i have lost it is a good day..if i have gained i spend the day hating me.
Just this past week right before i saw your challenge i tried to make an effort to change this way of thinking..it is a struggle so thank you so much for this..
2. Which statement do you want to celebrate as already being a part of your life in some way?
I always stand up for myself. I may let myself think bad things but i never let anyone put me down.
Vanessa, glad you recognized this tendency and are already working on shifting it. We’ll be talking more about that later this month! And I love that you are setting boundaries with others. Now, to set those boundaries with yourself! Glad you are shining with us this month!
It’s tough for me to choose just one. I struggle with most of these things.
To stop berating my body and celebrating the vessel that I have been given first and foremost, and keep in mind the journey that has gotten me to the point where I am.
I have started working on gently but firmly standing up for myself, something I have always had a hard time with.
I’m looking forward to celebrating and learning a little more about myself over the next month!
Ashley, something that is helpful for me when I am setting boundaries is to just remind myself that I am creating boundaries not digging chasms. Just a little guidance to the other person on how you want to be treated often works. Sometimes, some people need a bit more but a little can go a long way.
If a few of these statements feel challenging, you might consider choosing 1 to 2 to concentrate on each week. Glad you are here!
Yeah Rosie…really looking forward to they posts this month. Definately on the top of my list of priorities…
The statement I most need to incorporate is…
To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body.
The thing I think I am already doing to some degree….
To understand that my weight is not good or bad. It is just a number, and I am only good.
Taking the pledge…need to find the right exercise to really enjoy and take care of my body. Will take some suggestions from the other comments. Ready to focus on this instead of just ignoring it in my life. Cheers!
Teresa, so glad you are here. Yes, finding movement that makes you glad in the process is so revitalizing. If you already know what you don’t like, write a list of those. Then write a list of everything you have yet to try and get started! Let us know what you find!
I am so glad that I came across this tonight. Somehow I have missed it in the chaos of the last week or two!
The statement which I need to embrace and commit to working on is …..”stopping berating my body and beginning to celebrate the vessel that I have been given…….. ” This statement is something that I want my life to be based around – that everything I do, think and feel comes from this. I know it will be hard and challenging however I think it is going to be so important in my recovery from Anorexia.
One statement which I feel I am slowly integrating into my life is about standing up for myself and not letting other people walk over me. As time goes on I am learning to be more assertive.
Thank you so much Rosie. Im really ooking forward to taking this journey with you. Xx
So glad you are here, Missy. Developing that assertiveness is an incredibly powerful step in self-care. Bravo!
Love, Love, Love SHINE! This is my commitment: To change the inner-monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections. God turned my mess into a message for a purpose … and I will embrace opportunity (and not obsess on the obstacles).
Yes! I love your phrase, “God turned my mess into a message for a purpose.” That’s beautiful. I’m committing with you on this one.
Yes, Lee! Walking with that purpose and passion changes everything.
1. the statement that seems like the biggest challenge for me is “To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth.”
2. I’ve already made progress with “To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well” at least on the nutrition part (not yet with exercise).
Susan, a little every day makes such a difference. What I always remind myself is that the journey is the goal, not the destination. So glad you are here!
“To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.” In particular,I need to work on eliminating the things that do not nurture my body (or soul).
To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body. – I am just starting to realize that my body is capable of far more than I give it credit for. I will be competeing in a try tri in a couple of weeks!
Morgan, Bravo on the tri– that’s awesome. Good luck. Please come back and share some of the experience with us. Also, you might be interested in writing a wellness prescription to help with giving your body what it needs: https://rosiemolinary.com/2011/11/28/preparing-for-the-new-year-writing-a-wellness-prescription/. So glad you are here!
I’m struggling with “To let envy dissipate and allow admiration to be a source of compassion by offering compliments to others” so I will be mindful of this today. I’m doing well already with exercise and recognizing how it honors and nourishes my body. Thanks- these are great!
Thank you- -and we will be working on that envy/ admiring piece more soon!
I so need this!! I have to really work on negative self talk, not waiting for the perfect body, etc to live life! Looking at the positivesI bring to this life just by being me, I am compassionate, caring and loving I need to embrace that!!!
Thank you so much for doing this
Thank you, Melissa! You do need to embrace all those things and I hope shine can be a small part of helping you relish in that!
The statement I want to most consciously embrace is:
To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth.
I struggle with this every day and am hopeful that this process will help me embrace this every day.
The statement I want to celebrate is:
To see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body.
While I used to do yoga to change the way my body looks, now I do it because I love it, because it’s shown me that my body can do cool things, and because it betters my health in more than my body but also my mind and spirit.
I LOVE the place you have come to with yoga, Meg. That’s awesome. Now it is time to come to that place with confidence. Shine is a great start. So glad you are here!
This is the statement I need to make the most effort towards -“To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.”
This is the one I want to celebrate -“To see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body.”
So glad you are here, Erica!
The most conscious one is focusing on not letting others define my worth…to stop waiting for outside approval before allowing myself to believe in me.
The one that will be celebrated as already being part of my life is seeing exercise as a way of internally helping me on every level. It is not a way to change size or shape.
I love your book, Rosie!
Thanks so much for joining in, Cassie! I believe in you. Now, it is your turn!
1. I need to stop berating….for sure. This has always been my pattern. I always have a plan for what it would take to be in a place that would end the berating, but no matter what I do or have done, it hasn’t ended. It’s never enough….
2. As I’ve gotten older, I think that I definitely create my own confidence. I no longer depend on others to give me that the way I did in my youth.
Thanks for doing this…I am really good at “analyzing” others but really reluctant to do so for myself…this should be interesting !!:)
So glad you are here, Kelley. About your analyzing observation, they say we teach what we most need to learn. My bet is that you are reluctant to analyze because you know the berater is waiting to rear her head. Let’s put her in check this month!
I think that if I can learn to embrace ‘to change the inner-monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcommings, blessings not imperfections’ it would majorly influence all the others. My negative self talk, both verbal and internal, is so destroying, which I recognize, yet I feel so trapped in it.
Even though I still have envy moments I think that ‘to let envy dissapate and allow admiration to be a source of compassion by offering compliments to others’ I am pretty with this one.
Tanya, the first step is noticing and naming the problem which you have done. Start to actively coach yourself away from the berating and know that we have some stuff coming here that might help. Glad you are here!
‘To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth.’
This is something I really need to work on. Sometimes I think I don’t even know what I think about myself – it’s like whatever I do or am doesn’t really exist until I know what others think about me or it. This really should change.
‘To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.’
I am already committed to doing this. Today, I went out for lunch and was pretty assertive (in a friendly way, of course) about adjusting the menu so it fit in my eating plan. I drank a lot of water and some lovely herbal tea, and I had a great Iyengar Yoga class. And when I was a bit hungry after yoga, I treated myself to some unsalted nuts, which I ate and enjoyed one by one. It was a good day for me and my body!
I will now get my favorite pen and copy the entire Body Warrior Pledge into my notebook. I remember things I have written, and this deserves to be committed to memory.
Thank you for day one!
Susannah, thank you for sharing so openly. I want to celebrate that your ability to take care of yourself at the restaurant was really a moment of confidence. You have more ability than you recognize, I think. Start to see all of your successes and gifts as moments that warrant your confidence in yourself. Glad you are here!
I totally need to change the inner monologue up inside my head from critical to loving….AND I need to love my body and myself RIGHT NOW, TODAY!!!
I do feel like I have the relying on myself down…I don’t to others for approval so much!
Thanks for this, so excited!
Jamie, So glad you are here. I love that you don’t rely on others for approval but I look forward to your giving that approval to yourself. You are an amazing woman; you deserve to appreciate that!
To be the primary source of my confidence will be the most challenging for me. I find myself at times seeking physical acceptance and validation; am I wearing the right thing, doing too much or not enough, does this make me look like a linebacker? While I want to be appropriate, I am fully capable of determining that for myself without the validation of others. I think I have embraced the concept of exercising for health and not for lbs. I feel so much better when I do and I’m positive that shows on the outside. It might not be in lost lbs, but it shows
It does show, Andrea; you are absolutely right. And, yes, you are fully capable of determine for yourself that you are making the right decision without the validation of others. The challenge will be to hold yourself to that truth. So glad you are here!
Thanks for this project, Rosie. First, this is a challenge for me because I’m French. So, please, be indulgent. My English is not as good as I expect;)
1- My 1st statement is :
To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth.
2- My 2nd statement is :
To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.
I can’t wait for Shine Day 2!
Your English is fabulous, Marie! So glad you are here shining with us!
I like this one: To see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body. I’d like to add that any kind of movement is good movement. Any kind of activity is good activity. Doing some kind of movement is better than doing none at all. And, it is OK to take a day off every now and then. I’ve been doing very basic activities, like gardening. Yoga helps my mind, body and soul. I think that activity improves my all-around health: mental, physical, psychological, spiritual. That’s why I enjoy Yoga.
I still struggle with berating myself and my body (negative self-talk). Also, I’m not there at all on this one: “To understand that my body is an opportunity not a scapegoat.”
Lynda, I just want to go through your whole first paragraph and add exclamation points and bold. Yes, yes! Here’s to embracing all of your greatness!
To embrace: To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.
I am so bad about taking care of the body I have been given. I run it ragged sometimes and take care of all the things around me first.
To celebrate: To recognize my body’s strengths.
I do see the strength I have, thanks to loving people in my life who are pointing them out. I am strong!!
Jacqueline, so glad you are here! You might really benefit from writing a wellness prescription. Here’s a link to a post that describes it: https://rosiemolinary.com/2011/11/28/preparing-for-the-new-year-writing-a-wellness-prescription/. Love that you have people in your life who point out your strength. Be that person, too!
Hi Rosie, thank you for this!
The item I struggle most with (I actually struggle with almost all of these) is “To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.” That having worth part…sooo hard.
“To change the inner-monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections.” is the part that I’ll celebrate. Although I’ve actually been struggling with this more lately, overall I have done a lot of work around this and the negative inner-monologue is much less negative than it used to be (but still needs work).
Jessica, so glad you are here! What good self-awareness. I look forward to this journey with you!
For me all the body statements go together as what I need to concentrate on. I like the statement that “my weight is not good or bad. It is just a number, and I am only good.” I actually don’t know my weight as part of my eating disorder recovery, but I definitely feel that way about my body size, or evaluate my body size in those terms (bad/good).
Jackie, Thank you so much for sharing. I am so glad you are here!
1. To change the inner- monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections- Thinking more positively will really help in many aspects of my life (family, friends, work)
2. To recognize my body’s strengths- when I see all the challenges my family and friends have faced recently, I appreciate the strength I have in my body and all that it gives me
So glad you are here, Cindy. Love that perspective about your body’s strengths!
The statement that I need to make the MOST conscious commitment to embrace is to no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body. At 28 I still feel like I’m not worthy enough to be in a relationship because I’m plus size. I’m surprised when guys are flirting and/or are interested in me because there is a part of me that doesn’t believe I deserve it because of my pants size.
The statement that I want to celebrate as already being a part of my life in some way is to be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth. I’ve spent a lot of time over the past two years focusing on learning and loving who I am. I have come to love who I am as a person, which has helped me find a new level of happiness.
Oh, Sarah, yes, go have fun, don’t doubt yourself, don’t punish yourself for not living up to some fake standard. 28 is so young and it goes so fast. Revel in the magic and possibilities of every moment that you are having. Revel in your now! So glad you are are here!
The part of this that will be most challenging to embrace is seeing exercise in a more positive light. I have a young child, and little time for myself. When I do have time, I don’t want to spend it exercising! It feels like a waste of time. However, I don’t spend said time doing anything earth shattering, so I think it’s just an excuse I’ve made for myself. I have, in the past, caught the exercise bug, and loved it and felt so strong and healthy and alive. I hope I can figure out what it took to start that fire, and see if it’ll start again. It’s been five years since then, and I’ve had a few starts, but with a family to care for, my physical activity is always the first to go.
The part that I already have is not seeking for confidence outside of myself. I have much love and support surrounding me, fortunately. I know that I am that source, but right now I am not giving it to myself. I’m ready to change my thinking!
I’m so glad this is happening online. I have the book Beautiful You, but again, I didn’t stick with it. Somehow, I always manage to check FB throughout the day, so it’ll be great to see the reminders and have a place to share.
Wolfie, as the mom of a little one, I so understand. I loved moving pre-child and then was so tired post-child that it has come in fits and waves. This year, though, I have really fallen in love with going out in the quiet of the early morning and just being me and alone with my thoughts. I never thought it would happen but I can’t wait to get a morning run in, it’s like this magic time where nothing can get in my way but my own mind and, well, I won’t let it so I am totally free. Glad the online aspect of this is good for you. Maybe this will be the start of a whole thing. Who knows?!
The most challenging, and I’m not entirely sure why:
To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.
I have really worked on, and feel much better about this:
To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body.
Trish, Glad you are here! You might benefit from writing a wellness prescription– here’s a post that explains it: https://rosiemolinary.com/2011/11/28/preparing-for-the-new-year-writing-a-wellness-prescription/ Looking forward to getting to know you!
I can embrace my ability to comfort and soothe I know this because I have a child that was very sick and I was surprised at my abilities to handle that situation. I was great at comforting and soothing! I need to work on To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body. Wow I didn’t even know I was doing that until I read it just now. I have been doing that for a long time. Ok I will work on that!
Isn’t it amazing what we can rise to, Faith, especially when our children are concerned? Now it is time to rise to the occasion for you! Glad you are here!
2. Which statement do you want to celebrate as already being a part of your life in some way?
I need to learn to love my body and accept myself today…this is the hardest lesson for me. I have never liked me and have a hard time seeing my worth. I want to slowly begin to change ths.
Recognizing my body’s strengths is not hard for me. Even though I don’t like myself much, I do know I have a strong body.
Oh Valerie, yes, that must change. What if you start noticing what others like about you– just taking that in and saying something like, Well, if Rosie likes my honesty, maybe I can like my honesty, too. Maybe do that everyday for a week and see if that helps with a little bit of a shift.
So glad you are here!
1. Which statement do you need to make the MOST conscious commitment to embrace?
“To be the primary source of my confidence. I will not rely on or wait for others to define my worth”.
This is what I am working on right now in my life…”To be the primary source of my confidence”. But still in need of a mentor to walk beside me while I expose myself through my writing to the world but “not relying on or waiting for others to define my worth”.
2. Which statement do you want to celebrate as already being a part of your life in some way?
“To see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body”.
As I make the choice to age gracefully I am seeing “exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength”. I am choosing to see exercise as a way of life and not a goal to reach. But with that said I still don’t always embrace what I see in the mirror.
So glad you are here, Nancy and love your honest renderings. If you are looking for a writing mentor, check out http://www.jodihelmer.com– she’s doing great work with writers! Looking forward to your sharing more over this month!
This is such an amazing pledge and concept! I am going to be doing it in my journal for the month, as well as ordering a copy of the book when I can.
1. The hardest for me–though most of them seem hard–is “To be the primary source of my confidence.” That comes from a life of having zero confidence and most of my actions being done to please others.
2. One that’s part of my life is “I understand that my weight is not good or bad.” I thank Marilyn Wann and the HAES movement, which I’ve only been learning about for a while now, for this. 🙂
So glad you are here, Sara, and glad you are making it part of your journal process!
I can do this…..I should do this….I need to do this! Some days I feel like I have self accepting/loving person in my head. Other days I feel like she forgets to “show up”. I’d like to invite her to stay around all the time!
1.) To give my body the things that it needs to do its work well: plenty of water, ample movement, stretches, rest, and good nutrition, and to limit or eliminate the things that do not nurture my body.
—–I use my vices as a crutch when my confidence dips…..I reach for “comforting bad for you foods and drinks”…I am a health professional. I know better…I have awesome will power…but I think it is about more than will power…there is something in my head telling myself it’s ok to do this not good for you things because you are a loser who already failed… therefore go ahead and fail like a champ. I need to come up with a way to remind myself of my strengths and accomplishments in times like this.
So glad to have you here, Jennifer, and so appreciate your candor. You might benefit from writing a wellness prescription that concentrating your energy on just 2-3 things that are on it for a week or two and building like a ladder– that way your non accepting voice doesn’t have something to berate you– you want ed to do these 2 things well this week and you did. Looking forward to getting to know you this month!
For me the statement I need to embrace in my life is “To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body.” Also I love to exercise and I see exercise as a way to improve my internal health and strength instead of a way to fight or control my body.
So glad you are here, Linda!
I am trying to “change the inner-monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections.” I have let my past dictate how I anticipate my future will be and, consequently, I plan for the worst case scenario. This has lead me to close myself off for fear of getting hurt but in the belief that I was ultimately protecting myself. I need to allow myself to be a little vulnerable because I will not always be hurt and if I am I will learn from the experience and heal stronger.
I am now trying to firmly stand up for myself when my anorexic/controlling voice says something harmful. I now recognise the voice of my ED which is damaging me and I am learning to quieten it.
What powerful, powerful awareness, LadyEm. So glad you are here and joining us.
I need to work harder at trying to be the primary source of my confidence. I constantly rely on others to define my worth. While I have been relatively successful in many areas of my life, I have always battled feelings of failure and worthlessness because of my size. For years I felt the need to be a people pleaser in order to justify my existence and the space I occupied in the world. I’m doing better, but I still seek approval from my boss, my friends and my family. That is the main source of my confidence. I know that I have a lot of unique talents and skills, but I still have a hard time being confident in the absence of outside validation. I want to simply believe that I am enough.
I have been working on trying to see exercise as a means for improving health rather than part of a weightloss regimen, and I am getting better about it. I used it as a punishment or means to an end for a long time. Now, I’m trying to include more joyful movement in my day. I just learned to hula hoop at the age of 38, and it is toooo much fun!
I’ve had such horrible body image all my life. I am ready to work on changing it and am excited to follow Shine each day.
These three statements are my biggest hurdles:
*To understand that my weight is not good or bad. It is just a number, and I am only good.
*To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.
*To no longer put off the things that I wish to experience because I am waiting to do them in a different body.
What stands out to me is to “gently” stand up to myslef when i say things harmful to myself…that darn little voice that just wont be quiet. have you ever tried to still that voice? not an easy thing to do.
I am very pro active with excercise, specifically yoga to improve my internal health and strength.
Love doing this….lets shine!
I’m reading Beautiful You, I’ve come to day 200 so far, but I am so excited to refresh my mind with Shine! It is just so exciting to celebrate what I’ve done and identify what comes next!
1) “To gently but firmly stand up for myself when someone says to me (or I say to myself) something harmful.”
Tough one, but step by step I’ll do it!
2) “To love my body and my self today. I do not have to weigh ten pounds less, have longer hair, or to have my degree in my hand to have worth. I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.”
You know, I’ve just read this week documents I wrote 5 years ago. How I saw myself. I would see my competences but judge myself for not being good enough, strong enough, generous enough,… you get the picture. I was amazed that I now see in myself the same competences than for 5 years, AND I see myself as being “enough”. I’m just right the way I am, and I’m exactly where I suppose to be. This is a very empowering feeling!
Late to the party, but better late than never.
I need to work on not berating myself. I am not always telling myself negative things but I am stuck in this world of shoulds.
Enjoying exercise and not using it to control my body. I am coming into loving care of myself, but fear I have dismorphia because there are times I look at myself and see huge girl, and other times I see where my face has thinned out, where my butt has gotten firmer…. I need to work on this. 🙂
Difficult: Don’t depend on others for my confidence!
Rejoicing: I ususally try to compliment others often to inspire their confidence.