Put down the dagger and pick up the kitten

What do you think of the following invitation?

Love and accept your body just as it is right now. 

Is this something you’re drawn to or are you rolling your eyes hard right now? Maybe a little of both?

It’s a funny thing, this little invitation.

On the one hand, most people want to love and accept their bodies, on the other hand, they also want to change their bodies in some way. Doesn’t loving and accepting something mean embracing it for what it is without wanting to change it?

Is it even possible to love and accept something that you want to change?

I believe it is possible. In fact, I believe that for significant, long term change to happen in a healthy way, it’s required.

Why?

Because a journey fueled by shame, disappointment, and anger rarely leads us to our goals. And if it does, we will backtrack fast and furious once we reach them. However, a journey fueled by love, acceptance, and compassion will support us from start to finish and allow us to happily bask in our goals once we reach them.

I don’t think it’s a matter of accepting and loving oneself or changing. I think it’s a matter of accepting and loving oneself and changing. We can love ourselves and accept where we’re at right now while taking steps to better ourselves. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Don’t get me wrong, shame, disappointment, and anger with oneself can be helpful fuel to get started—that kind of fuel has kicked my ass into high gear plenty of times when nothing else would. But It’s just not sustainable. At one point or another, you must lay down the dagger and pick up the damn kitten.

Action time. Choose a sentence below that currently resonates with you. Write it down and say it out loud daily.

I love and accept my body and I'm working to get strong and healthy.

I love and accept my body and I'm working on releasing excess weight.

I love and accept my body and I get Botox.

I love and accept my body and I’m putting in the work to have visible abs.

I love and accept my body and I want my body to look different than it does right now.

It doesn't have to be this or that, it can be this and that.

Don’t wait to love and accept your body until you reach your goal. Love and accept your precious body right now and your goal will be easier to reach.

Molly

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