How do you practice self-acceptance and find unconditional love for yourself?
This is the question for this month's BlogHer's Life Well Lived panel. It is not something that has always come easily for me. I was painfully shy all through school. I think a big part of being shy is not being confident in yourself and caring too much about what other people think. When I got to college, things changed for me. I realized that we are all more alike than different. There was no longer the cool kids. There was just kids.
I got to reinvent myself. I realized that I could be whoever I wanted to be. I also realized that I am as good as anyone. I stopped criticizing myself. I started to try more activities and succeeding in them. I became more confident.
Another big barrier for self acceptance for me was coming to terms with my body. I knew pregnancy would change my body. I just didn't know how much it would change. My perky C cups became ginormous G cups when I breastfeed. Now that I'm done with breastfeeding, let's just say they are less perky and somewhere in between the two cup sizes.
I am struggling with Hashimoto's disease and losing weight. I wrote about it recently here. While I struggle with the changes the disease has brought, I also have to find a way to love my body the way it is now. I had to change my thinking. Instead of seeing my breasts as saggy, I look at them and remember how they nursed 2 babies for the first year of their lives. I see those healthy,strong kids running around and I am thankful. When I look at my bigger waist line, I remember how it was the babies home for 9 months each. I try not to focus on how my thighs touch but on how they are strong and ran on the treadmill 5 miles this morning. I try to focus on the amazing things my body can do.
I'm not perfect. I have my bad days where things get to me. Overall, accepting myself has made me a happier person.Check out more blogs for more thoughts and advice on the Life Well Lived site. While you are there, make sure you enter the Life Well Lived sweepstakes for a chance to win a Kindle Fire.
