Oprah had a sign above her dressing room door that read:
“You are responsible for the energy you bring into this room.”

So, I always am thinking about the energy I want to bring into the rooms that I enter. What I have come to realize, is that how I feel in my body has a lot to do with how I am able to show up, because it impacts my self confidence.

I know I am not alone. I hear it over and over again, because how we feel in and about our bodies hugely impacts the way we feel about ourselves. If we wake up and try on lots of clothes, and nothing fits quite right, or we step on the scale and it says something we are not happy with, it impacts our mood.

Bad mood = Bad energy.

When we are feeling like this, frustrated, unconfident, and depressed about how we look, we walk with our head down, shoulders hunched and guarded. The energy we exude is less than optimal, so regardless of where you go, or what you do…that energy follows you around.

I think about the image of Pigpen from Charlie Brown. He carried with him a dust cloud…our energy is like Pigpen’s dust cloud and it impacts everyone we come in contact with.

So, when we are feeling let down by our bodies, or are hating on them…we are carrying around a dust cloud of hate, disgust, and negativity.

The truth is when we don’t feel good in our bodies, we get caught in the loop of self-judgment, comparison, and shame. And it is hard to feel confident, present, or connected with others.

Our inner dialogue becomes a constant humming of…“They must be thinking I’m…”“I’m such a…”“Will they notice that I have….?”“Why did I eat that! I am such a loser.”“Stupid body…ruins everything”

This constant inner critic dims our light, our energy, and impacts our self esteem and self confidence.  It leaks into our relationships, our work life, our family, and the way we show up in the world.

Feeling disappointed, frustrated, and angry with the body impacts everything we do, what we think, our energy and how we show up.

Building Body Confidence can change everything.Something powerful happens when you stop fighting your body and seeing it differently.  You can start doing this by shifting your focus away from the body’s appearance and towards all the things it does.

By shifting your thoughts towards body appreciation, everything can change. Think about being grateful to be able to hear the sound of the raindrops, take the independent trip to the grocery store, enjoy the warm hug of a friend, or the see a beautiful sunrise.

When you start thinking this way, you begin a shift from body criticism to body appreciation. 

This allows you to to stop pouring your energy into picking yourself apart, and start putting that energy into noticing the little things, smiling more, and choosing to say yes to the things, places and people that are important to you.

None of this is about being in the ‘perfect body.’ (what the heck is that anyway?)

It’s about starting to feel at home in the one you have right now, allowing you to free yourself from constant comparison, shame, and doubt.

When your body becomes the home that you live your life in, you begin to appreciate it a bit more, thus you show up with a whole new kind of energy. A new perspective on not just your body, but your body in the world.

A more appreciative perspective starts to build confidence.

And this new feeling of confidence impacts the energy you have in…

The places you go (meetings, movement, dinner tables, new adventures)The relationships you have (family, professional, social, and self)The things you do (the actions you take, the dreams you pursue, the boundaries you set, the way you care for yourself)

Creating a ripple effect to everything else.

It is here that you will feel less judgement and more self-compassion. Find yourself with more brain space for joy, purpose, and meaningful relationships.

You find yourself saying YES to more things, and may move your body because it feels good. You ask yourself what you need, and then give yourself permission to meet those needs with kindness and curiosity….

Because this isn’t just about how you feel in your body, it’s about how you experience and live in it.

Becoming body confident supports you to…Take up space, in conversations, in photos, and in experiences.Trust your body as an ally, not an enemyStop hiding and isolating.Model self-acceptance and body respect for the next generationShow up as your unique and authentic self… unapologetically.

“My relationship with my body, along with a new determination to find ways to move it, are an amazing new way of living for me. Moving is painful, but I’m finding things I can do. I’m learning to ask myself what I really need and how to listen to my body.”    Callie M

This is the power of body neutrality, appreciation and confidence. It changes the conversation inside your head, and frees you to lead with your heart, stand in your truth, and bring a different kind of energy into every space you enter.

This kind of energy? It is contagious and magnetic. It will follow you everywhere, just like Pigpen’s dust cloud. And it is EXACTLY what the world needs more of.

People like you showing up… as only you can.

You carry yourself differently when you’re not battling your body, and body confidence becomes your quiet superpower.

This is a picture of 5 year old me. That power-pose shows confidence. I lost her for so long…I am so glad to have her back.

If this message resonated with you, I invite you to subscribe to my Substack for more reflections, stories, and practical tools to help you feel more at home in your body…no diets, no shame, just truth, compassion, and confidence.

 

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