The Panic Zone
When I’m 85…
Hey you,
So I’m going to launch right in there.
Here is the thing about body image work…you don’t have to love your body.
No matter how many memes we save on Instagram, moving from body bashing to loving your body doesn’t happen overnight. That’s a huge ask to make of anyone. Especially when we have been conditioned to be on opposing sides. Waging war with it, trying to restrict and sweat it into submission.
To ask us to 'just love ourselves’ can feel giant, an insurmountable gulf to traverse, but we can build a bridge back to a kinder, more compassionate relationship with ourselves with small steps.
There are lots of strategies and tools we can use. I won’t bamboozle you with them all in this letter. Instead, here are two powerful ones to reflect upon.
The life you want to look back on
What do you want to see when you are 85 years old, tucked up under a tartan blanket? Family, love, experiences, travel?
Perhaps take a moment to write down what you hope your life will have looked like, felt like.
Do any of your answers concern your body shape or size? I have a feeling they won’t. Reflecting upon what really matters during this one pop on the planet we have, can help shift our body image mindset.
Start saying yes
I know this doesn’t feel easy at the start. There can be solace found in the ‘ I can’t do the thing because’ thought. It keeps us in our comfort zone and it’s cosy in there.
However, being comfortable can hold us back from living a full and rich life. Concerns about body image can stand in the way of making memories and having fun. Memories we might treasure aged 85.
We can experience anything outside our comfort zone as the PANIC zone, but there is another zone. The growth zone, and it’s in this space where we can expand our window of tolerance. By taking small steps, leaning into discomfort when it arises and giving ourselves a loving push, we can increase the boundaries of our comfort zone and open up the rich tapestry of live.
We know from research that social support is a critical factor in being happy. So next time, I invite you to say yes to drinks with friends, the day at the beach, the coffee date. It may feel scary, but these experiences are where a lifetime of memories lie.
Equally, when we begin to shift our focus toward how our bodies support us, how they show up as our allies and not our enemies, we can start a journey of tender-hearted self-respect.
A gentle starting place might be this guided body appreciation meditation. I invite you to find a quiet space, pop some headphones on and listen. Recording this was such a healing reminder of everything our bodies do for us.
I hope you find something of support in this blog today.
Love,
Rose x