Partnering with Your Body This Holiday Season
Part 1 out of 3 part series – Body Respect
Who or what are you going to partner with this holiday season? Partner with a gorgeous person on the dance floor at a holiday party? Maybe. Partner with your credit card for gift giving? Probably. But partner with your BODY? Ho, Ho, Ho… NO!
It’s true, you may not wish to partner with your body. In fact, some of us may be outright enemies with our bodies. Trauma and internalized weight stigma (being fed the idea that our bodies needed to fit the thin ideal) may have severely damaged this relationship. Your trepidation with this proposal is understandable.
Why might you WANT to partner with your body?
Well, your body is the one partnership that will be with you for your entire time on this Earth. You spend a lot of time in your own skin, so being comfortable in it seems a whole lot more pleasant to me then constantly being at odds with your body.
Also, being in partnership with your body is being in a place of true power! Partnering with your body can be a big step towards healing trauma. It is in partnership with your body that you experience the wisdom of your emotions and of your intuition. From this place you can best take care of yourself and best be a force for Good in the world.
To begin to build a loving partnership with your body think of it like building any relationship. What are some important aspects? Respect, open communication, mutual trust, etc. These things can be practiced with your body in order to feel more comfortable in this lifetime partnership.
We’ll address these 3 particular aspects of a loving partnership (respect, open communication, and mutual trust) one at a time in the upcoming months. In this particular blog, we’ll look at the aspect of Body Respect.
Body Respect
When I think of body respect, I think of the ACTION of respect. How can I show respect to a teacher, even if they’re not my favorite? I could show up on time, complete my homework, pay attention in class, even bring them a candy cane in December. 😉
How can I apply the action of respect to my body during the Holidays? Can I feed my body when she’s hungry (even when I have a big holiday dinner planned that night?) Can I get enough rest, even though my to-do list has quadrupled this time of year? Can I move in a way that feels joyful (how about chair dancing to my favorite holiday song as a break from work? Or stretching before I get out of bed in the morning?) Can I wear a party outfit that feels great to me or even adorn my body with a new tattoo and false eyelashes, if that’s what I find beautiful?
Other body respect ideas may include, but are not limited to
· Eating and drinking regularly throughout the day
· Regular sleep and wake times, when possible
· Joyful movement, when I am able. PS: this will likely include lowering the bar on what I consider to “count” for exercise
· Listening to my body’s needs, like for a bathroom break, to change physical positions, etc.
· Expressing my emotions, like crying or pounding my fists in my pillow
· Regular hygiene, like baths and brushing my teeth
· Setting boundaries
· Self nurturing activities like massages or getting my nails done
· Wearing clothes that fit and are weather appropriate
Your list may be different. There’s no right or wrong way to practice respect. I don’t have to like my body to show her respect. Respect can be shown by actions based in kindness. Body respect is a practice I can do regardless of the state of my current relationship with my body. The more I “practice” respect the more my affinity for the object of my respect grows. No matter where you are in partnership with your body, practicing the action of respect can go a long way in building a healthy partnership.
The holidays can be challenging. Life can be challenging. We need the support of partners. I know it may feel far off to some of you, but your body can fill the position as your closest partner. Begin to take some steps toward a loving partnership with your body by practicing body respect this holiday season and in the coming New Year.
For support in this partnership with your body, you may wish to partner with a non-diet nutritionist. To schedule a meet and greet at Heart Guided Nutrition click here.
Open enrollment has also started for our next Embodiment Process group, In This Body. For more information and to grab your spot, look here: