How to Love Your Body

One of the go-to strategies I share with women who want to offer their bodies more acceptance is to create a sensory moment. Engaging the senses is a powerful way to connect with your body.

Notice I said “moment.” This is meant to be something you can do quickly to reconnect with your body, self-soothe, or offer yourself love, even if you aren’t feeling very loving.

Self-Touch

Self-touch is my favorite way to create a sensory moment when I need a nurturing boost. I may wrap my arms around my body and squeeze. Or gently massage my scalp. Or hold my face with both hands, close my eyes, and take a breath.

But if you have experienced trauma, self-touch may not be soothing at all. If you’re resistant, honor your body and find another way to create a sensory moment.

You could experience touch by snuggling under a weighted blanket for a few minutes or sipping a warm drink and paying attention to how the warmth slides down your throat into your tummy. You could also step outside and feel sunlight sinking into your skin or notice a breeze that flirts with your hair.

Engage Your Other Senses

You can also get out of your head and into your body by engaging one of your other senses. Whenever I’m trying to pay attention to a sense other than sight, I close my eyes to help me focus. Give it a try, but again, if that’s not comfortable, you could try a fuzzy gaze or pick one spot to look at.

Suggestions to Spark Ideas:

1. Step outside. Find a spot to sit and close your eyes. Spend one minute cataloging all the sounds you hear.

2. Eat something with a strong flavor or texture (a piece of fruit or candy or a chip). Slowly chew and notice the sensations in your mouth.

3. Place a few drops of an essential oil on your wrist and inhale the scent.

4. Find something that you find beautiful and give yourself a minute to gaze at it.

5. Play a song that fits your mood.

6. Take three slow, deep breaths and notice any sensations in your body as you breathe.

You can show your body love, even if you don’t actually love your body. Acting in a kind, compassionate, gentle way toward your body is a way to offer your body respect and acceptance. And it’s a powerful practice because when you act loving, you often shift your mindset, which will impact your relationship with your body.

These acts of love are easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. Some of them you probably already do. If that’s the case, I invite you to perform those tasks with the intention to care for your body. Be deliberate and acknowledge the kindness you’re offering your body.

A pair of brown hands with pink fingernails holds a small mound of dirt. Heart flowers sprout from the dirt. The painting is on a green background. — Artwork by Mica Gadhia

1. Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge.

Don’t hold it. Don’t wait to finish the task. Don’t avoid going because you’re in public. Just excuse yourself if needed and take your sweet self to the bathroom. You’ll feel immediate relief and so will your body.

2. Put on a sweater if the air conditioning is freezing. Or cool yourself down by shedding a layer if the heat is sweltering.

Don’t be uncomfortable if the air temperature is too hot or too cold. If you’re indoors, adjust the thermostat or turn a fan on/off. Don’t sit at your desk and shiver. Put a sweater on. Or if the heat is making you grumpy, take the jacket off. You don’t have to hide your arms.

3. Brush your teeth.

Give some gentle attention to those chompers. Don’t rush the two minutes. And if you’re feeling like offering something extra, floss too. Your teeth will feel smooth, your mouth fresh, and your body will feel a little bit cared for.

4. Drink some water.

Stick your head under the faucet and slurp it up. Or pull out a fancy glass and garnish with fresh fruit. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just hydrate. Don’t worry if it’s the “right” amount.

5. Rest when you’re tired.

Whether you’ve hit an afternoon slump or a wave of exhaustion is knocking you out, let yourself slow down. Maybe that looks like a long nap. Maybe it’s a ten-minute snooze with your eyes closed. Maybe it’s walking away from a tiresome task and coming back to it after you’ve had a dance break. Maybe it’s going to bed as soon as you’re tired rather than at a specific time.

Acts of Service

Acts of love are a way to be of service to your body. They show your body that you’re a trustworthy partner, even if you’re reluctant to accept your body.

Sometimes you’re so disconnected from your body that you don’t even notice the small ways that you do take care of it. This practice allows you to connect with your body multiple times in the day to see how it’s doing.

Reflection

Pick a day this week and commit to practicing all five of these activities for an entire day. Then give yourself space to reflect on what happened. Possible journal prompts:

Were any tasks easy to do? Did you resist any of these tasks?
How did you feel after a day of taking deliberate care of your body in these ways?
Is there a loving task(s) that you want to continue?