Summer Meltdown Week 3 – Mental/Emotional Health: Overcoming Body Shame

By Kathy D’Agati

How do you feel when you slip into your bathing suit?

Are you comfortable in your body or is that inner critic still looking for all the flaws that need to be hidden and covered up?

It can be really hard to ignore that parasite in your head that is constantly telling you that you are not good enough. You look at all the best features of another person and compare them to all your worst. You are so self-critical; you think that others must be thinking the same thing too.

Guess what? They probably aren’t thinking about you at all.

What would happen if you could turn down the volume on all that body bashing? Wouldn’t it feel great to just dress comfortably, get out of your own head and have fun knowing that you are already good enough?

If your brain is trying to poison you with thoughts that will ruin your day, it’s time to change the channel. You can start by putting this bumper sticker on your mirror, “Don’t believe everything you think.”

Practice replacing negative thoughts as soon as them come in and you recognize them as unhealthy.

The best way to do this is to come up with a thought replacer. I am certain if you asked your friends and loved ones what they see when they look at you; it wouldn’t be any of the flaws you so mercilessly dwell upon.

Be as kind to yourself as you are to others. Write an extra positive thought about yourself on an index card and can carry around with you. Use it as a thought replacer. Read it every time you have a negative thought.

Thought in, thought out, thought replaced.

Your thoughts have the power to create your life. Choose the ones that will bring you closer to experiencing joy. Learn to do this and you won’t have to wait for “something else to happen” before you can have the life of your dreams.

Physical changes rarely impact our lives the way we think they do.

Ask anyone what he or she remembers about somebody and I bet they won’t tell it’s their dress size.

Work on bringing joy, acceptance and grace into your life and your beauty will be radiant.

My guess is, when you start feeling this way about yourself you will also start making better choices about what you eat.