W.W.L.D.? :: What Would Lizzo Do?

Let’s get real for a second. When you stand in front of the mirror and look at your body, do you see features or flaws? When you look at a photo of yourself, is your first reaction typically a positive one? I think it’s safe to assume you hope your child grows up with a strong sense of self-worth and positive body image, right? The question is: are you practicing what you preach, or are you providing first hand examples of what not to do?

*Cue gut punch.

Let me first start by saying that this is not one of those posts where I tell you your body is a temple with a bunch of cliché, sugar coated quotes and images I found on Pinterest. You will not read this and suddenly radiate confidence. Yes, we should ALL love the skin we’re in. Confidence should radiate from our core because of our strong sense of self-worth, but the truth of the matter is, it’s much easier said than done.

“When it comes to body image it’s less about how you see yourself and more about how you value yourself.”

Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. I want you to think back about 10 years and picture yourself. Not too shabby, right? …But were you truly confident and secure in your body? Before you answer, we’re not looking for a response from the ‘current’ you. There’s no doubt you’re looking back at that version fondly. I want to hear what the ‘10 years ago’ version of you has to say.

Did you embrace every aspect your body? Flaws and all? Were you happy with your appearance more than not?

I’d be willing to bet that wasn’t the case, at least for the majority of us. If we’re really being honest with ourselves, a lot of us know that as slammin’ as that body was, it still wasn’t enough. We know it wasn’t. Otherwise we wouldn’t see the comment, “I can’t believe we thought we were fat!” every time a Facebook memory pops up.

Now I want you to picture yourself 10 years from now. What do you hope you’ll be able to say? Will you look back on today and say that you cherished and appreciated the body you had? Tell me Mama, why are you spending SO much time and SO much effort criticizing an amazing, powerful body that in 10 years, you’re probably going to wish you still had any way?

Before you start spiraling, take a deep breath and listen closely, mamas. IT’S. NOT. YOUR. FAULT.

You didn’t just wake up one day and decide you weren’t going to like the way you look or feel. No, it was years of conditioning, influence, and passed down habits that created this deep-rooted insecurity in so many of us.

To be clear: this is not just about weight, stretch marks, or anything else Instagram is telling you to change. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to the insecurities we have. What’s that old saying: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well one woman’s insecurities are another woman’s #GOALS. Which is reason #59726 to stop comparing yourself to others, but that’s for another day…

If you find yourself being too critical of yourself, take the “friend test.” If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself! It seems like such a simple concept, right? Except for the fact that, we are all too aware that it’s much easier said than done. Each season of life can and will bring new insecurities with it. There will be many days you will struggle to find that confidence and self-worth, AND THAT’S OKAY!

We can’t all be Lizzo. …Truth hurts.

Luckily, our story is far from over. We have the power to change the way future generations see themselves. By fostering a strong sense self-worth, we can encourage generations to value themselves and others beyond just appearances.

You can only start to live once you’ve learned to love yourself. Start loving & start living, because we can be the change we wish to see in this world!

 

 

Kristen Gary
Kristen, a proud UL Lafayette graduate, lives nestled between Verot School Rd. construction signs with her 2 children, husband, and projects waiting to be worked on. For her, family comes first - always. When she isn’t diving headfirst into an existential crisis, she spends her time catching up on all things Bravo, wishing she had gone to bed earlier, and helping her husband find household items hidden in plain sight. Kristen is obsessed with helping moms feel encouraged, supported and confident throughout their motherhood journey. As the owner of CircleUP Fitness, she devotes her time and energy to ensuring moms across the Acadiana area look and feel their very best. A fierce mental health advocate and part-time social justice warrior, Kristen believes vulnerability is the key to a happy life and strives to live life as transparent as possible.