Chapter 1: My Journey with Body Love

The relationship I have with my body has been a challenging one, and I want to share my personal experiences to illustrate how you can finally achieve peace with your most constant companion, despite its imperfections.

This blog post is also available as a podcast on my site, Spotify, and iTunes.

To be candid, my body isn’t a picture of perfection. You might be surprised, especially if you follow my Instagram and see my slim physique. However, I want to share what my body has endured and the marks it bears. Throughout my youth, I struggled with my weight, oscillating between various diets. In my twenties, I gained and lost approximately 100 kilos. Unfortunately, this rollercoaster left my skin sagging and wrinkled.

Additionally, I’ve faced health challenges that have taken a toll on both my mind and body, requiring numerous medications. While I would prefer a toned, healthy physique, I have learned to love my body wholeheartedly, regardless of its appearance. In the following three steps, I will outline the mindset shifts that helped me reach this point.

Section 1.1: Discovering the Beauty Within

Often, we fixate on the aspects of our bodies that we dislike, fostering a sense of dissatisfaction that can adversely affect our well-being and health.

Our thoughts can significantly influence our bodily processes. This is evident in the placebo effect, where patients experience real changes from a dummy drug solely based on their beliefs.

To transition from dissatisfaction to acceptance and eventually to body love, start by recognizing the parts of your body that you appreciate or even love. Stand in front of a mirror and take a moment to admire those features.

Section 1.2: Acknowledging Your Loyal Companion

Body love is a vast concept, so let’s begin with a simpler, yet powerful feeling: gratitude. Your body is your most loyal companion, working tirelessly for you throughout your life.

Take a moment to reflect on all that your body does for you daily. Consider this:

• Your legs allow you to explore the world.
• Your eyes help you perceive beauty and gain knowledge.
• Your hands enable you to create and build.
• Your mouth allows for expression and enjoyment of food.
• Your skin lets you feel warmth and love from others.

List everything your body has facilitated for you. This exercise can evoke a profound sense of gratitude and may reveal that your body is, indeed, your best friend.

Section 1.3: Redefining Body Love

A crucial realization for me was understanding that body love does not require perfection. Ask yourself these questions:

• Would you love your child less for having an imperfection?
• Would your affection for your partner diminish due to physical flaws?
• Would you stop loving your parents if they aged and changed in appearance?

Most likely, your answer is a resounding “no.” So why should you expect your body to be perfect for you to love it?

With this understanding, I learned to accept my flaws, health issues, and physical pain with compassion.

I genuinely hope you find your path toward lovingly accepting your body, taking each step with patience. If you're interested in exploring self-love further, I invite you to check out my self-love course.

This video discusses how to foster a positive relationship with your body and food, promoting peace and acceptance.

Chapter 2: The Path to Inner Peace

In this chapter, we explore healing and inner peace through self-acceptance and understanding.

Discover strategies for attaining inner peace and healing through self-love and mindfulness.