Body Image and Gratitude

For many people, November begins the season of gratitude. Starting with Thanksgiving - whcih literally has THANKS in the name, it's important to ask yourself how often do you thank your body?

Learning to quiet the body bashing and negative body thoughts is not easy. The mental picture you have of your body is constantly compared to an image of what you think you should look like. This is due to the social impact of body image. Seeing images over and over again is linked to poor body image and feelings that your own body is not normal. As a result, you may shame, criticize and hate certain parts of your body. 

Body image refers to how you see your body. What you believe about your appearance, how you feel about your body and how you move, nourish and use your body. 

Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has. It involves being thankful. 

The human body is incredible. Just think about all your body can do and has done for you - crossing finishing lines, bringing another human into this world, traveling, overcoming obstacles. And now think about what your body does on its own, without you even asking it to - overcoming illnesses, giving you another year of life, thinking, remembering, moving, breathing. 

The simple act of body gratitude can shift how you view your body. Because body shaming has become a social norm, it's important to take a conscious effort to love, appreciate and thank your body. 

It's very hard to take care of your body and hate your body. 

Start showing your "As It Is" body love by offering it gratitude for all that it does for you. 

Why are you grateful for your body?