So many of us live in the dream of what will happen for us when our bodies look, feel or do exactly as we want them to. 'When I lose ten pounds, then I'll love my body.' Or 'When I get through this injury then I'll feel good about being in my body again.' The truth is that there really is no time like the present. We can't get to loving our bodies by hating them until they perform a certain way. We have to start with the loving part now. That old expression 'you can't get there from here' really is true.
Try an exercise I do with clients in my groups. Close your eyes and picture your ideal body, whatever that means for you: lighter, free of injury or diagnosis, vibrant, healthy. Get a really clear picture, feeling all of the feelings and sensations there. Look around you, feel your breath moving in and out. Then notice not just the outside, but the inside: what are you feeling about your body in this picture? If you could turn up the volume on your thoughts about your body, what are you saying to it? Also, think about how you would describe the way you feel in this picture. What kinds of qualities are present? Write down five words that describe how you feel and the kinds of qualities or aspects of life this picture gives you. Some examples might be free, alive, sexy, uninhibited, joyous, calm.
Then slowly come out of the visualization. Ask yourself : with or without the outside changing, how could I bring more of those qualities into my life now? Imagine the qualities you wrote down as if they were in you right now, in the present moment. What are some choices you would make from those places that you're not making now? What would happen if you lived a day from those qualities?
When we're not feeling good in our bodies, we can still use the vision of how we think we want to be on the outside to connect us to what's really missing on the inside. As you find ways to feed those qualities back to your soul, your body relationship automatically begins to shift as well. Use the list of qualities you came up with to make a list of activities that best connect you to those qualities. Be creative. There is no right answer, just what's true for you. One woman in a weight loss group found that 'reading a book' connected her to the quality of 'peace' she was seeking; for others that might be a walk in the forest, a nap or a phone call with a friend.
Once you have your list, make a commitment to do atleast 2-3 of these activities a week as a way of honoring your ability to live into the body you want from the inside out. Stop waiting for the 'someday' to live the qualities you and your body most celebrate and enjoy.
Author Resource:-
Anna Stookey is a psychotherapist & bodymind coach who helps people move into their highest vision of health and wellness by partnering with their bodies rather than working against them. Ongoing blog at: bodyreunion.blogspot.com or sign on to the website:
bodymindguide.com
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 