Radically Change Your Perception of Your Body Image with this One Tip

Stop Chasing Perfection

Whether you’re someone who hates your giggly thighs, your fuzzy hair that doesn’t do what you want it to, your Pillsbury doughboy tummy, or your wrinkly skin, you’re not alone. We all have something we don’t like or want to change about the way we look.

We may be a space in our life when we haven’t exercised in years. We may be in a space where we need to be better to our body so it can be there for us years down the road. We may be in a space where we think we’re not pretty enough, fit enough etc.

Stop chasing perception: the perfect body image and weight. Whatever that looks like for you whether you’re out of shape or in the best shape of your life. Stop feeling guilty. Stop pushing to that next level of fitness.

While we may know there’s no perfect body image, it doesn’t help our yearning to look a certain way. It doesn’t help us get off the couch and go get fit. Then feel guilty when we don’t or finish that last bit of ice cream.

It doesn’t help that need to reach the next goal to run longer, lift more, lose more, get more.

Whether you’re fit or not you may be chasing something, chasing some perception of what you want to look like.

You’ll never be happy.

Change Your Perception

Our bodies are gifts from God. Do you take a precious and practical gift someone gives you and treat it poorly or do you appreciate it and use it, thinking of the person who gave it to you and feeling thankful?

What if we did this with our bodies?

This type of thinking could radically change our habits and our self perception to something that’s healthier and happier.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NRSV).

This summer my goal was to lose weight and gain muscle in order to get to a base I could maintain.  The cycle began: I exercise, watch my calories, indulge, feel guilty, exercise, etc.  I wasn’t seeing results.  I was focused on losing weight.  I was focused on body image. 

I think I’ve been going about this exercise kick I’m on in all the wrong way.  I should be focused on exercising as a way to appreciate the gift of the body God gave me and my health.  I should focus on eating as appreciating the food God provides.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31, NRSV).

I was exercising and eating healthy for me.  Not for God.  This is why it fell apart when I succumbed to temptation in food or not exercising.  I was trying to do it on my own, my own will. 

Pride. Vanity. Stubbornness.

I needed to let go.

I needed to focus on God.

And so I begin anew in my journey to a more healthy me.

May you find God at the center of all you do and appreciate the gift of life He provides.

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