5 Things to Change Instead of Your Body in 2022
The new year is upon us and so are the incessant ads, social media posts, and commercials encouraging you to claim this year as the year you finally change your body or lose weight.
I’m here to say that yes, it’s a new year… but, we don’t need a “new” you.
current you is more than enough.
Instead of buying into another program, setting your hopes on a new fad diet, or grasping for control over your body, let’s look at a handful of things that you can really move the dial for your mental health in the coming year.
1. Your relationship with social media
There is so much power in purging your social media accounts of messaging that feels disempowering or pushes you into a state of comparison and not enoughness. Take a look at who and what shows up on your feed. Does it make you feel like you’re enough, exactly how you are? And, does it make you feel empowered to make health-promoting choices? Does it offer education or humor about topics you're passionate about?
If not…
Consider pressing that handy unfollow button. The accessibility of social media and information (overload) complicates our relationship with ourselves in so many ways. The last thing you need is one more thing reinforcing the idea that what you’re doing, or who you are, isn’t enough. This is a topic we may address in mind-body therapy in Pennsylvania.
2. Comparisons
As cliche as it is, comparisons really are the thief of joy. Start noticing when and how you compare yourself to others. Acknowledge the suffering that is inherent in those moments and offer yourself kindness and validation for being where you are. When you can acknowledge the pain (or other feelings!) that’s behind comparisons, there’s room to acknowledge what is and radically care for yourself despite it.
3. Your wardrobe
Time to clear out old clothes that are uncomfortable or “inspiring” you to change your body image (by inspiring, I mean haunting 👻 !) Box them up and put them out of sight, donate them if you’re feeling ready to say goodbye. Your body deserves comfort, not more hypervigilance around how uncomfortable things are on your body. There’s grief in saying goodbye to clothes you once loved, but there’s also freedom on the other side.
4. Relationship with food
Most of us were taught from a young age that in order to have a positive body image, we have to diet and control our food. This sets most of us up for a lifelong struggle with food and ongoing disappointment that our bodies just don’t measure up. If you’re here, you know that dieting just doesn’t work. Plain and simple. It’s not sustainable, it leads to increased anxiety and depression, obsession about the body and pulls us away from behaviors that are rooted in unconditional self-care and regard.
Instead of diving into another diet, consider learning more about Intuitive Eating in mind-body therapy in Pennsylvania. It’s an eating model that is rooted in connection to yourself, your needs, and your worthiness to be free from food obsession.
5. Denying your needs
Ya’ll, asking for help is hard. In a culture that teaches us to put our heads down and grind away to achieve or prove ourselves, it certainly isn’t a skill that is taught. Getting in touch with your needs can feel like a deep dive. But, as long as you are unfamiliar with them, you’ll likely continue to feel unfulfilled, drained, and possibly resentful. Consider what you need more of emotionally, spiritually, recreationally, concretely.
Who is a safe person that you can share with? Your online therapist in Pennsylvania? A partner? Your best friend? Start there. Validate these needs as truths- not you being high maintenance or needy. You deserve to care for yourself and to be cared for which is a topic we may address mind-body therapy in Pennsylvania as you overcome struggling with body image.
Full stop.
let’s call bs on the narrative that you need to change your body in order to have a fulfilling, embodied, and joyful life.
Being curious about and shifting the way you treat yourself, care for yourself, and connect with yourself will move the dial more than any diet ever will. Our eating disorder therapist would be thrilled to help you overcome this mindset and care for yourself in a way that is impactful. Begin mind-body therapy in Pennsylvania today!
Sending you joy, contentedness, and compassion as 2022 gets rolling.
🧡,
Looking for online Mind-Body therapy in Pennsylvania for body image issues and disordered eating?
Reclaim Therapy is a therapy practice in Horsham, PA specializing in treating binge eating, body image, trauma, grief, and eating disorders. Our eating disorder therapists are passionate about helping people live full, meaningful lives without the exhausting obsession with food and the body. We believe that all people deserve recovery and we’re committed to helping our clients get there.