The Definition of Beauty

Recently, I attended a body image workshop at my local yoga studio. I understood the message that was given and I understand the concept of good body image. Learn to accept your body. I get it. I really do- the whole "fake it until you make it", this is the only body you're going to get might as well accept it concept. And for the most part I am grateful for the body I do have. I have two legs, two arms, and can function normally- as long as it's not between the hours 11pm and 8am. I don't want this post to turn into an "I hate myself" post because that is just not true. I have come so far in not hating myself complete and I don't want to backtrack.

However, actually learning to accept your body is much hard than it seems. From a young age in our culture, we all (males and females alike) are convinced that they have to look a certain way in order to be loved. What kind of message is that to be sending?

It is complete and utter poppycock! You should not be loved for only your appearance. It is just a trait and not even a very good one. Would you rather have someone who looks good on their Instragram page or someone who can carry on a conversation, or is caring, or someone who is compassionate? Yes, it's nice to have someone attractive mostly because we are a sexually based culture, but the most beautiful person could be the meanest, rudest person you know. Who wants someone like that? I'm going to make an analogy about food because I like food. Would you rather have a burger that looks delicious that tastes disgusting or have a sloppy, hot mess of a burger that tastes delicious?

With that being said....I am definitely one with body issues. I've come to terms with many of the problems but still every now and again they come back and I have to reevaluate. Starting in high school, I developed many of the issues that women face in this day and age. My hair isn't long/straight enough. I'm too short. My waist isn't small enough. My boobs aren't big enough. Nothing is perfect. I'm not good enough. No wonder no one likes me etc...

These are the destructive thoughts that pass through not only my mind but the minds of many, which is sad. Sad that we are so caught up on one trait of ourselves. Why not work on being loyal, trustworthy, loving, smart, strong? Why are we all so stuck on the fact that our teeth are blinding people? And I am at fault for it too. Don't think I'm sitting here thinking how much I love my body. In all honesty, the reason I finally decided to finish this blog was because I was lying in bed thinking how big my waist was. I'm the girl that sits there and untags myself from photos because of how much I think I look disgusting (Don't believe me? Look how many pictures I'm in on Facebook). I am and I won't lie about it.

I have been working diligently since December to start to feel better about myself and what I have learned is making yourself healthy makes you feel better. Not 100% better, but it makes you more grateful for having good health as opposed to being sick and having a skinny waist. I love the way my lungs fill with air. I love the way my muscles move and grow. I focus on loving what my body can do over trying to force myself to love what my body looks like.

Another thing I have learned to do is to love looking at things other than a mirror or pictures. Have you ever watched the first snow fall of the year? Or watched the stars fill the sky? Or watch someone PR at the gym? Or someone interact with their kids? Those are the things to watch. Why waste your time looking at something that you can't change and makes you upset when you can look at something that touches your heart? I'm not saying it's going to be easy to build a positive body image, but maybe you should focus on fixing other traits you have an put "beauty" in the background for a little bit.