The Rude Awakening
Filed Under: Body Acceptance
30 April 2021 | Written by Xenia Ayiotis
Just over a month ago I slipped on a beautiful wooden staircase and injured my coccyx. Just as I was starting to feel better, I then did something that triggered my lower back. Sciatic nerve pain is humbling. Interestingly, during the last few months my self-talk about my body has been negative – my inner critic has been passing judgements about my arms, my stomach and my thighs.
The voice is not nearly as harsh as it was in my “dreaded dieting days” when I was in a permanent state of war with my thighs, that critical voice is still there.
Whilst my two injuries were by no means serious in the greater scheme of things, they were a loud wake-up call, a reminder to come back to body appreciation.
But why do we need an injury or illness to remind us to appreciate and respect our bodies? Why do we need to fall down a staircase to remind us of all the incredible things our bodies do for us?
We forget that our bodies, as Lyndsay and Lexi Kite say are “instruments not ornaments”.
Most of us have been conditioned from a young age to focus on the appearance and not the functionality of our body. I needed to remind myself that regardless of how my body looks, and whether I like its appearance or not, I can still choose to treat my body with kindness and respect.
Just like making peace with food, learning to accept our bodies is not linear.
It’s a messy process that requires ongoing awareness.
Perhaps somewhere between acceptance and rejection lies a middle way of respecting and befriending our bodies so that we can foster a connection to our body where we can respect and care for it as it is, despite imperfections and limitations.
No matter how we may feel about how our bodies look, the relationship we create with them will largely determine the quality of our day to day life.
Take good care when you walk down a beautiful wooden staircase and remember to practice gratitude for your precious human flawed body.
May we all find the courage to accept our bodies.
Wishing you well,
Xen
Hello, I'm Xen. Welcome!
I help women all over the world drop the struggle with food and their bodies to create a life of peace and freedom.
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