Body positivity and How to achieve It -Part 1 of many

I'm not going to lie, its not an easy process to get to a point where you're simply okay with how you look. You shape, size and weight. Its a struggle for most of us to look in the mirror and not think of things that we would like to change about ourselves.

I'm here today and certainly not for the last time to tell you that it is so important and alright for you to be okay with what you look like, to look in the mirror and not tell yourself you could be better, more attractive or more 'normal' if you could change the shape of your butt or the size of your thighs. Sure you can tell yourself, I can do 10 more pushups today or run the extra mile because I'm feeling energetic but i'm trying to pin point those negative thoughts. You know the ones that go, urg why is my tummy so flabby or why can't I just be a little bigger or smaller.

I'd like to point out that we're not entirely perfect. No one can be. No one should be. The only thing that is true in its form, that is entire in every aspect of your life is your progress. Mental, physical, spiritual, academic, social. Stand infront of the mirror and rather than asking yourself what would you like to change about yourself, ask what is it that has changed to your liking. It can be the length of your hair, your height, any feature. Focus on it, let it bring you thoughts of love, respect and gratitude. For example, I like that I've been giving a good amount of time to working out my arms or I love that I can walk longer without having to stop or I can see a difference in my thighs. Pointing out progress will attract more of it.

To add to my list of habits or rather morning rituals, I now wake up every morning and list the things that I am grateful for. My eyes, my legs, my beating heart, my family, my friends, my whole life for that matter. I say thankyou, thankyou and thankyou. Moving on, I look in the mirror and list three things that I like about myself. I let myself be fully aware of them until I know for sure that I like those characteristics, those things that essentially make me different and who I am.

To be honest with you, I don't weigh what I want to weigh, I'm not as tonned or strong as I would like to be. But then again will you ever be? The human body is capable of so much. Rather than limiting that potentional, we should see it as it is.

I weight this much, this is my height, this is my body right now and if i'm not going to love it as it is right now, how can I ever be sure I will love it when I work hard to change it? I'm not sure if i'm even getting my point across here. Help me out. Theres nothing I want more than people to think good of themselves, for myself to feel good. Because when I feel good, I project that onto everything and everyone in my life. I choose the healthier option, I choose to treat myself. The energy you give off is what you embody.

Second thing, comparing yourself. You are only allowed to compare yourself with who you were yesterday. That's a rule. No other human being or martian comes into this equation. Me today-Myself yesterday= total amount of slay today.v(Quick maths) To compare yourself with others is to think you are designed the same. You are not. Your bodily funtions, metaolism, DNA, FREAKING DNA is not the same. You have a different path than the rest of them. You weren't meant to look at others and wish you could have what they have. You were meant to think of what you want. And if what you want is remotely or entirely what someone else has, that is fine but rather than shifting your attention from yourself, you must remember that everything around you is there to either motivate you or discourage you. The choice is yours. However I myself have experienced that I can only focus on what I don't have rather than what I do when i'm thinking like say for example I don't have long legs like her. All of sudden, I just start wishing my legs weren't the shape they are or size. Not on the fact that they're strong, muscular and capable of taking me places like the kitchen to make myself a sandwhich. So there's that. I feel like i'm talking in really general terms because the main point I'm trying to put out there which can be percieved positively is go ahead, look up your favourite trainer or model, take her as a good example of a healthy figure. Heck I've got a whole board dedicated to fitspo on my pinterest but never put them in that equation with yourself. I have to remind myself this everytime I'm on there just so I make sure to use it as examples of dedication and hardwork rather than a means to put my down or put me off course by taking away something positive about myself.

I feel like the more I write, the more encouraged I feel to be more body positive and think more about ways I can achieve my goals in a healthy way.

Make sure to have some greentea before getting to bed tonight and list three things you love about the way you are before going to sleep!

-Sarah