Don’t be your own worst enemy

If you had a friend and you told her everyday That she was too fat, that her thighs were too big, that her stomach needed to be more flat...

if you had a friend and you were angry at her most of the time For not having smaller hips, for not having smaller curves, for having hair that was too fine If you had a friend and you only ever criticised how she looked Telling her she wasn’t good enough, telling her that her body was shameful, treating her with disgust...

Do you think she would feel good? Would she even want you in your life? Would you allow yourself to treat someone else this way? Would you think you were being kind?

So why then are you talking to yourself this way? Why do you cricticise yourself so much? Why are you being so unkind?

It’s mental health awareness week this week and the theme is body image. So many people I work with - even healthy, beautiful women - are unhappy with their size/weight/wrinkles/skin etc ... yet most people are far too harsh on themselves. They are trying to live up to unrealistically high standards. In this air-brushed world - we can feel a lot of pressure to be perfect! Yet remind yourself that by beating yourself up and criticising yourself so much - you are hurting nobody other than you ... and you are so much more than just your shape/body/weight... you are creative, intelligent, fun, curious, talented, caring, generous... and so many other wonderful things!

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha