For years I have kept a journal.

They are filled with words about heartbreak, eating disorders, and breakthroughs.  There are stories about life and my encounters with God.  Writing has always been a great way for me to move through challenges because for me, there’s just something about getting the words to flow out onto a piece of paper.

These days, my journals have a different mood about them.  Ten years ago, I didn’t know how I would overcome my battle with food and a negative body image… but it happened.  Pivotal learning points through people, books, and ultimately a brilliant inner guide, led me to see my body as a gift to live this life in.   Wouldn’t you like to have more kind thoughts than criticism when you look in the mirror?

If you feel ashamed of your body and would like to get knee deep in love with who you are, keep reading for some tips I have…

Detox your thinking

The conversation you have with yourself and about yourself can be one of the most subtle, but powerful things to become aware of on a daily basis.  It can be difficult to notice the criticism and self-doubt because sometimes it becomes such a part of what you do.  Try putting your pen to paper and writing down the words you would use to describe your body.  Just write – no sensor.  Then draw a line through the words that don’t make you leap for joy on the inside.  Write down words that describe how you would like to feel about yourself and your body (even if you don’t feel that way right now).

Move out of your head

Exercises like yoga that engage a mind-body connection can be healing because it forces you to pay attention to the sensations and movement in your body.  Just being aware of the movement connects you with who you really are.  Show up to your workouts with the intention of letting go of your thoughts, and focusing on exercise as a way to train the power of your body and mind working together and not against one another.

Affirm yourself

Positive thinking sends new messages through your body.  If you want to say with confidence, “I love my body – I love working out – I love my life”… you’re not going to get there by saying, “My arms are fat – I’ll never get in shape – I’ll always be lazy.”  This goes along with point #1, but after you ‘detox your thinking’ and figure out what kinds of messages you’re sending through your body, affirm yourself with new words by practicing them every day.  Try this: pick a word from the exercise in #1 and say it while you’re working out (especially when you’re really out of breath, or aren’t sure if you’ll be able to crank out that last push-up).