Is healing a very complicated process, as we're often led to believe? This post challenges the notion that psychological healing is an intellectual process requiring a high degree of specialised knowledge.
So much of our susceptibility to messages that tell us that our appearance is inadequate derives from abuse we suffered early on in our lives. If we can come to understand this abuse better, it will be much easier to let go of the need to protect ourselves from further hurt by pursuing conformity at the expense of authenticity.
Girls and women are given messages throughout their lives that they must change the way their bodies naturally look to make them look acceptable and attractive. Many women feel ashamed if they don't conform with all these 'rules'. Is it time for a change?
Fearing and resisting suffering only makes it worse! If we can learn to see the gifts in it, and be kind to ourselves when we're going through difficult times, we'll be repaid with greater freedom, and a deeper knowing of our true nature of love.
Fear tells us that we won't be able to handle future adversity. But love - the sweet elixir which can ease our suffering - is always available to help and guide us.
By focussing on thoughts that tell us we need our body to look different to be happy, we create a barrier to the bliss of being alive. When we stop doing this, we open ourselves up to exquisite feelings.
Appearances can be deceptive. When we don't like the way our bodies look, we are seeing ourselves through a distorting filter of judgement. Simply being aware of this can make the experience less overwhelming.
Viewing our bodies as products creates insecurity and suffering. When you have a felt sense of your real unconditional value, your insecurities about your appearance will fade away.
Gaining weight is a huge fear for many people these days. It can have a detrimental impact on our health and wellbeing. Fortunately, we can let go of this fear, and have a nicer, more enjoyable experience of life.
If you are overeating and judging yourself for lacking willpower, please know that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with you. You can recover.
Is beauty just conformity with a list of rules - the so-called 'beauty' standards? Or is there more to it than that?
When I didn't feel safe, I used food to help me calm down. When I became less afraid of my feelings, I didn't need to abuse food anymore.