When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you love the reflection? Or does the negativity loop take another spin around your mind and heart? What if you could learn to honor your body instead? 

If you're anything like me, you've had a love-hate relationship with your body for a long time.  Somewhere in our adolescence we become acutely aware and self-conscious of our ever-changing body. And our thighs (or is that just me?).

The loop begins.

Maybe it started with a glance in the mirror. Or a "joke" from a friend. Or a critical word from a parent. 

Or abuse.

No matter how it started, you stopped loving and honoring your body. Now, it's a lifelong battle to get the negative recording to stop. We fixate on our imperfections and all that is wrong with us. 

The truth is, no one has ever hated themselves skinny. 

The greater your body dissatisfaction the more you'll hinder your weight loss efforts and studies prove it. The opposite is true as well. The more satisfied you are with your body, the more likely you are to see improvements. 

So, it's time to honor your as-is body by working to improve it but also loving it as it is today.

Here are 3 ways you can honor your as-is body. 

1. Know who you are. What are your superpowers? What are you really good at? What makes you totally awesome? Effective change comes from recognizing your strengths (you have them!) and then using them more often. You have abilities and skills that are unique to you. Think about whatever is awesome about you, right now, no matter what your body looks like, and put it to work for you. That simple act will boost your emotional wellbeing. 
   
   
2. Know who you are not. You are surrounded by airbrushed images and impossibly thin standards you will never meet. Why? Because they're not real. And they're not very motivational either. If they were, we wouldn't be fighting the obesity epidemic we are in this country.  A 40+-year-old body is not going to look like that of a 20-year-old. Period. Especially if you've had kids (hello, stretch marks!). That doesn't mean you should throw in the towel and stop exercising or eating well. But it does call for a re-evaluation of what health looks like for you and your body.
   
   

3. Know whose you are. Ultimately, life is just a mist. This life will be gone in the blink of an eye and earthly mirrors will be left far behind. When that day comes and you meet Jesus face-to-face, He will be the only mirror you see. If you look really closely and wipe away the fog, you will recognize the reflection gazing lovingly back at you. You look just like Him. You are His creation. Made in His image. Do you recognize Him? The good news is, you don't have to wait to see that reflection. He's in your bathroom mirror today, too. Look. He's waiting for you to see Him.

In this week's podcast episode, I interview my friend and health coach, Sarah Alves, about honoring your body and what that means in everyday life. The way we view our body and how we treat it has a big impact on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. 

I know it's hard.

I battle the same negative script in my own head. Thank goodness I work alone because some days I have to give myself "pep-talks" out-loud when I catch myself in this loop!

Am I my ideal size and weight because of it? No.

But I'm a whole lot more content. And honoring your as-is body is key to knowing how to improve it and love it at the same time.

Because God loves it, too.  

Listen to the new podcast episode here >> Honoring Your Body