So I saw this tweet the other day & at first I laughed then something didn’t sit right with me & I was like I shouldn’t be laughing at this. Here’s why this is body shaming & in me taking part in this I’m basically body shaming myself. I’m basically saying to myself that my body isn’t bathing suit ready. What bothered me even more was the number of likes & re-tweets it had. Basically, all of these women feel negatively about their bodies in some way.
I’ve been on a long journey with my body. I was really encouraged a couple of years ago. I was sitting on a crowded beach and I saw women of all different sizes rocking what they had. We are not all made the same & we’re not supposed to look like that photo-shopped model on the cover of vogue that model doesn’t even look like that . It’d be pretty boring if we all looked exactly the same. It’s super easy as women to fall into the comparison trap. So I want to give you a few tips that can help you on your journey of learning to love yourself.
1. When you look at yourself in the mirror instead of dwelling on the negatives focus on the things you like about yourself & even compliment yourself. Let’s be more like this little girl making sure we’re speaking life over our appearance.
2. Buy clothes that make you feel good & that you’re comfortable in. If you try something on in the store & you don’t like it, I promise you when you take it home you won’t like it either. Fill your closet with things that you enjoy wearing it helps when you feel good about yourself.
3. When someone compliments you accept it, I mean really accept it. Let the weight of their words sit on you for a bit. We as women are far to critical of ourselves & sometimes we don’t see what others see because we’re to focused on the negative.
4. Focus on Jesus. When we take our focus off of ourselves & do our best to focus on the one who is ultimately perfect & made us in His image things will start to change.
God has made us in His image. When I choose to compare myself, or even hate myself I’m telling God that He’s made a mistake in some way. That the other person I’m comparing myself to is some how better. Our bodies are His temple, would I ever mistreat the church building I attend? Most of you are like never, so why are we mistreating our bodies? I believe self-love is a way of glorifying God with our bodies.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13-14
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:7
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me
Isaiah 49:16
She Laughs Mission 