Our bodies are there for us, day in and day out, and yet we tend to judge them harshly – often from the moment we open our eyes in the morning. Our bodies are also the first thing we will neglect when we get busy or time poor.
Your body truly is your best friend, if you let it be. It can contribute amazing things to you when you are willing to listen and receive them.
Here are three things you can do every day to bring the joy back and start a more loving relationship with your body.
WATCH adorable kids give us an important message about body image. Article continues after video…
Be grateful for your body
After working with bodies for more than 15 years, I have realised time and time again that changing your point of view with your body can have miraculous results. So much more becomes possible if you simply begin to treat your body with more gratitude and acknowledge it as a contribution to your life, rather than giving over to thoughts and judgments against your body.
Every morning, before you get up, spend a few minutes with your body. Lightly touch your face – feel the sensation of your face of your face against your palms. Thank your body for being here with you. Take a minute to be with your body, to be totally present with it. Feel the sun on your face, the ocean on your body when you dive in. These are all things that your body allows you to experience. Take a moment to revel in that gift.
Ask your body
Do you decide what is right for your body – or do you allow your body to tell you? Your body actually does know what it likes and what it needs. And it has very clear ways of telling you, even if you have become very good at ignoring them. Have you ever put on a piece of clothing and it felt amazing? It looked good, felt good and you stood taller? That’s your body saying “yes!” Whether it’s the movement you choose to do, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the posture you sit at when at the table, or even the way you move your body when you walk – start noticing the messages your body is giving you. Is it energized? Relaxed? Uncomfortable? Awkward? Pay attention to your body in each moment, noticing how it responds. Then start to ask your body, what would feel good for you? When and what would you like to eat? Where would you like to go and how would you like to move? Start to learn the language of your body by playing with these questions and you might be surprised with what shows up.
Nurture your body
Do something for one hour a day and one full day a week that nurtures your body. So many people think this is a lot of time to spend. Let’s look at it another way – when you nurture something, it tends to thrive. When you neglect something it starts to suffer and die. What kind of impact would you like to have on your body? What can you choose that would nurture and care for your body and allow you both to thrive?
This story originally appeared on Balance by Deborah Hutton.
