Having just written a rather long post-rant about the impact of chronic illness on my ability to value and respect my body, it was strange to do today’s practice. But good strange. In reading the list of pledges, I was pondering what it might feel like to even start to consider some of these words as applying to my body, when previously I have simply written them off as ‘not for me’. It was good to do a little head check, as in ‘Get over yourself, girlfriend. You’re unique and special AND SO IS EVERYONE ELSE. These words of self-resepct and body love apply to you just as much as they apply to everybody else.’
Rightio then! Here are some of the lines I like best:
‘I pledge…to stop berating my body and to begin celebrating the vessel I have been given. I will remember the amazing things my body has given me: the ability to experinece 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.’
I love the idea of seeing my body as something that can care for and protect itself and others, rather than simply being a collection of deficiencies and deficits.
‘I pledge…to change the inner monologue in my head to one that sees possibility not problems, potential not shortcomings, blessings not imperfections’
‘I pledge…to love my body and myself today…I have worth just as I am, and I embrace that power.’
I think the two above might be the hardest of the lot for me. I wrote yesterday about my reliance on that negative inner voice as a distraction from thinking about more painful things, and I feel so exposed without it. As in, if I’m the one putting myself down first, at least nobody else can beat me to it. Exposure is scary. But so too is the idea of being locked inside my negative, inauthentic headspace for the rest of my life. So I guess it’s time to take the leap…!
In 2012, I am doing a daily practice in self acceptance, guided by Rosie Molinary’s book ‘Beautiful You: A Daily Guide To Radical Self Acceptance’ Click through to her website to learn more about the book and join in yourself.
The image at the top of this post- of that awesome looking strong woman- is a magnet from a range of merchandise by folk singer and all-round superstar Ani DiFranco. Click through the link to go to her site.
I ADORE Ani DiFranco. Love the image.
It’s funny how these things don’t seem to apply until someone asks you to apply them to ourselves. It’s part of that whole ‘not treating yourself like you treat your friends’ thing.
xk
Ha, that’s funny you mention that. I always used to scoff if therapists said, ‘how would you treat a friend who was feeling the same way (awful/disgusting/unworthy) as you do now?’. Because, duh, I am NOT my own friend, silly shrink! But now, I’m trying to come at it from that angle. Very challenging!