When I saw that this week’s Aussie Curves theme was “Favourite Feature” it got me thinking about what part of my body I like the most. Which led me to thinking about when I didn’t like any parts of my body.
To be more accurate, I actually hated my body. I hated it at a size 14 and I hated it at a size 24. I was in a pretty bad place and wasn’t treating myself well. And then one day I discovered the body positive movement. A group of people who believed in the importance of loving yourself at any age, weight, or size. Embracing the body you have now, wrinkles cellulite and all. These people believe that all bodies are good bodies.
I started following some amazing body positive people on tumblr (Natalie from nataliemeansnice, Katie from Fuck Yeah Body Positivity and Fat Girl Opinions are some of my faves), and immersed myself in a world of people who celebrated all bodies. I actively started to try and change how I thought about myself and how I talked about myself, and boy did it make a difference!
I started treating my body with respect, and rather than giving myself hate-fuelled messages I made them positive ones. Every time I said or thought something negative about myself, I forced myself to counteract that with positive things. My thinking wasn’t something that changed overnight, it’s something I’ve worked on over years. The negativity got less and less, and I started feeling more comfortable about my body and myself in general.
Two years ago, I refused to be in photos that showed my body. It was all selfies and Myspace angles (Myspace was the social networking site we used before Facebook, for those of you too young to remember). I even refused to be in a family portrait because I felt that crappy about myself. I never would have imagined that I’d have a blog viewed by hundreds of thousands of people!
Fortunately, things have changed. It took a lot of work, but I have changed. I can now truly say that I love my body, every single part of it. I will love it when it is bigger, I will love it when it is smaller. I will love it on days when it allows me to walk for miles and on days when it doesn’t. I will nourish it with things that fuel my body and my spirit. I will clothe it in things that make me feel fabulous. I will treat my body with the respect that it deserves and not allow anyone else to disrespect it.
If you’re just beginning your self love journey, or you’ve hit a couple of snags along the way (don’t worry, we all have days like that – they will get fewer and fewer!), then welcome. Surround yourself with things and people that make you feel good. Reach out for help if you need it. Take time to listen to your body, and you’ll be surprised at how much it tells you. Live your life in a way that makes you feel good, every day.
This is my body. Fat arms, shapewear-free VBO, this is me. I don’t have a favourite feature, I love all of me – as I am now and as I will be in the future.
How do you show your body love?
Leave your tips below, you may help to inspire someone else!
Meagan wears:
Short sleeved Nauticas Dress c/- Hope & Harvest
Danseur Flats from Rubi Shoes
Next Faux Crocodile Zip Top Clutch from EziBuy
PREACH! This is perfectly said!
<3 <3 <3
margot
i love these colours on you, navy makes your hair and skin pop like nothing else! so great how you came to love yourself and be an inspiration for other women daily!
A fabulous post Meagan! <3 I used to be down on myself too. Nothing needed to change apart from my attitude to my body. Now I love myself completely and life is fantastic. xx
You really inspire me Meagan! I’ve struggled for years, feeling uncomfortable with the way I look, but now I’m more and more trying to accept and embrace it.
Good on you chick!
Its amazing what a change of thinking can do! Its changed my whole life direction! For the positive!
GREAT post, Meagan.
Although my body’s changed significantly since having my daughter (stretch marks, a big-as c-section scar, a persistent stomach roll that won’t budge… fun!), I’m trying to love it anyway, because we only get one of these vessels!
Thanks Corrine! Love that way of thinking. Loads more body pos goodness coming from me in the new year xo
great post Meagan, and great dress too 😀 x
Glad I chanced upon your blog. LOVE IT! I was inspired by your pic to sport a polka dot sweater and some “skinny on me” jeans to a party! I’m a work in progress with the body issues, but I sure LOVED how I looked that night!! LOL! Thanks and keep up the inspiration!!
Hi!
I discovered your blog today.
You are awesome. And don’t ever ever stop loving all of you.
Hi, thanks Chel! xo
Love you Meagan, Love this post. You Inspire me everyday 😀
You inspire ME! Love being on this journey with you xo
Funny thing about me is even though I would love to be smaller (hate having to go to ‘special bra’ shops one bra costs upwards of $150) I think, wait no, I know I look nice most of the time. I am always smiling and even if you have a big nose and crooked teeth when you smile the sun shines brighter just on you and other people notice! Being happy with yourself is a big thing but it certainly shows and other people can see it too. I rock a size 26 and I am ok with that, though at times I curse my wide hips and hefty thighs then I look again and think I wouldn’t have my delightfully hour glass shape even though its got more sand in it than it should. So thank you Meagan because I always smile when I see someone else rocking themselves!
Nothing wrong with wanting to be smaller/fitter/healthier (that is a whole other blog post!) – I think that loving yourself at all sizes and stages of your life journey is important! Totally hear you on the bra front – finding a J cup is difficult and expensive :/
Wow, I wish I had your confidence! It actually brought a little tear to my eye thinking how far you must have come and the steps it must take to get to that point. I hope one day that will be me. Good on you!
You are rocking the hell out of that dress. Right now what helps me stay body positive is picturing hearing the same negativity coming out of my son’s mouth. Right now it looks like he’s going to be a bean pole like his dad but regardless of the shape he ends up I want him to think of all bodies as perfect; just the vehicle in which we have adventures!
Love that – it’s so important to think about the effect that we have on future generations. I know what my parents said about their own bodies and others had a MASSIVE (negative) effect on me. Sounds like you’re doing a good job there Mama xx
I feel exactly the same and having a daughter I just feel that pressure even more. Body image is rammed down girl’s throats at such an early age these days and it scares me the messages she’ll hear as she grows up. I want to be a role model for body positivity for her and feel I can’t achieve that until I’m comfortable in my own skin.