Friday, November 20, 2009
Self-Acceptance – A New Attitude
Today’s Bombshell is ME. It’s taken me awhile to post my personal pic on any of my blogs, but since today’s post is about Self Acceptance, it seemed to be the appropriate pic. Self-acceptance is being loving and happy with who you are NOW. It’s about YOU! It’s an attitude of appreciating, accepting and supporting yourself IN THE MOMENT!
I have been reading a TON of blogs the past few days about weight loss, body image, exercise, healthy cooking and eating, and healthy lifestyles.
I have stumbled upon a few that are a crusade for fat acceptance.
Personally, I think we should take the word FAT out of it. It is truly about SELF not the fat. That is the whole underlying existance that fuels the diet industry and yo-yo weights. Self-acceptance leads to new ideas, new possibilities that don’t exist while you are caught up in the struggle of other’s opinions and being real with yourself.
There is a fine, fine line between beating yourself up and being kindly honest with yourself. If you look at acceptance in terms of something else, you may be able to see the line clearer. You dream of a new car. You picture the car you want in your mind. Do you beat yourself up, talk negatively about yourself because you don’t have that car at this moment? Probably not. You can accept the car you have now, appreciate what it can do for you, where it takes you, but still dream of the new car and work on a plan to get it.
Acceptance is actually the first steps to change, rather than the misconception that if you accept it, than you are saying you don’t want something more. Not true. Accepting it for what it is actually moves you forward. I often remind myself that I can’t change others, only myself. If I am trying to change someone else, than my focus is off of me. It’s called distraction. And what I know about goals and change, you have to be moving toward something instead of just moving away from it. Moving toward something keeps you moving!
Cranky Fitness has an awesome post this morning about fat acceptance and a recent doctor’s visit. While I agree whole-heartedly with the idea and the vision behind fat acceptance, let’s make it truly empowering,
Declare it SELF- acceptance and let the change begin!
There you are! BBB. Image – even for all the years I was slender, my angst of how others saw me remained. Now, I, once again, have the pounds on but care less of others. Health is an importance over how others might find me excepting to the eye. It's a on-going thing, this self-image, once damaged. Healing it everyday with encouragement from people like yourself. Blessed Be.
November 20, 2009 at 11:38 amI think you're right. For me, accepting my body began when I focussed on what it could do (hiking) rather than what it could wear. Much pride in rock climbing followed. Size becomes irrelevant when you understand how strong and amazing your body is.
November 25, 2009 at 2:29 amAnd then one day, you realise that your body is changing without you even trying…
Amen! Great post. Too often we beat ourselves up (no matter what size we are) because we ate the wrong thing or didn't work out or just wanted a day off. I truly think that when we love who we are, the whole weight loss thing becomes just one aspect of our lives-not the center of our lives.
November 27, 2009 at 10:07 amNice to meet you! Good luck on your journey!
December 2, 2009 at 9:10 pm