I need to be better...

For whatever reason I have always struggled with my body imagine. Not to any extreme measures, but to the point that some days I get really down because I don't have that "picture perfect body." The feelings of "I feel so fat today" occur more often than I would like them too and I rarely "felt" fat when I was in high school. For some reason, that is Satan's way of bringing me down. We are constantly surrounded by what the media calls "pretty." Don't get me wrong they ARE pretty, but what most people don't realize is those pictures on the covers of 'Cosmo' or '17' magazine are airbrushed and most of the celebrities don't really look like that. From the way their hair is styled to their teeth. I don't know about any of you, but I compare myself to those women in the movies or on the magazines. That isn't realistic at all because they don't really look like that.

 I think I may have hit a turning point this week though. Wednesday night I had the young women from church at my house because we were making pizza! Somehow the topic of conversation went from pizza to how fat they all thought they were. It made me really sad, because I love those girls! They are like little sisters to me and it breaks my heart that they think like that, because it can honestly lead onto a very destructive path. This habit that I have of calling myself fat and ugly needs to stop...well, yesterday. I don't ever want any of my kids or my girls at church to hear me say that. That almost gives them permission to think the exact same thing. I have never once heard my mom call herself fat and I am grateful for that. From this day  on, I am going to try really hard to be more positive about the way I look. I was given this body for a reason and I need to be more grateful for it.

I think, instead of focusing on those girls in the magazines, we need to surround ourselves with positive images and thoughts and turn our focus away from being "skinny" and more towards being healthy. I get weekly emails from "Heart Health Everyday" and there was a link in the email to a website that had a list of 30 ways to boost your body image. Some of those ways include... move your body by doing activities you love, compliment yourself, think of one thing your body did for you today, smile, compliment someone else, and read something inspiring. Those are just a few, but my favorite idea was post or read something to your inspiration board. The board includes pictures and quotes that inspire you, things that make you happy... basically anything that inspires you in a positive way. Whenever you are feeling down you can look to this board and read something off of it.  I will be making one of these and it will more than likely turn into a young women's activity. If any of my girls are reading this, I want you to know that Heavenly Father loves you and gave you the body you have for a reason. Be thankful for what you have be given. If you wouldn't want your little sisters to talk negatively about themselves, then you should show yourself the same respect.

"Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley