How do you see yourself? I would bet (especially if you’re a woman) that it’s a lot different than how others see you. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately the last couple weeks as the Prime Life Fit Spring Challenge kicked off. As we get closer to Summer, everyone starts thinking about how they’re going to look in bikinis, tank tops, shorts, etc. And while I’m not a big fan of focusing solely on outward appearances, I do feel that Spring is a good time to re-evaluate our goals and maybe do some “Spring cleaning” on some habits and behaviors that have been limiting us.
So, as part of the Spring Challenge, I asked participants to send in before pictures and measurements. Every single person who sent them in voiced embarrassment and even shame about their appearance. What’s funny was when I looked at the photos, what I saw were beautiful, strong women…I did not see the “flaws” they saw and were beating themselves up over. A couple days later, I saw the below from Dove soap, and it brought it all home. Do yourself a favor and watch the video. It moved me to tears…
Whoa. See what I mean?
What if we just all cut ourselves some slack? What if we all focused on the things we love about ourselves instead of every little tiny flaw we perceive? A friend of mine told me she used to beat herself up if she saw toe hair while wearing sandals. It sounds funny, but these are the things that we tend to focus on and demean ourselves with. Why? I know for me, I used to equate happiness with certain outward, physical things. Have you ever told yourself the following: “I’ll be happy when I’m a size 2” or “I’ll be happy when I get that six-pack” or “I’ll be happy when I lose 10 pounds”. And how many of you have achieved those things, only to find that you weren’t any more or less “happy”? And worse, you STILL found flaws that you harped on?
What if we just all cut ourselves some slack? What if we all focused on the things we love about ourselves instead of every little tiny flaw we perceive?
Yep, that was me a couple years ago. I had gotten the leanest I’d ever been while training and dieting for a figure show. I placed 2nd in my class, and yet I picked apart every single picture I saw of myself – my butt was fat, my ham/glute tie-in just wasn’t where it should be, what was up with my posing?
WTH? It’s just a perfect example of how these things do not lead to true happiness. I believe true happiness comes from something much, much deeper…a true balance between mental and physical. It doesn’t depend on a number on the scale or a dress size or six-pack abs. It comes from loving what is, here and now.
You know what I wish? I wish that you all could take a step outside your bodies and look at yourself from my vantage point. You would see that you are beautiful. Period.
xoxo
Tara