Embark on a transformative journey with me as we explore the profound concept of impermanence in the pursuit of body confidence.
Ever felt exhausted by society’s unrealistic beauty standards?
Join me as we shift our perspective, redirecting our gaze towards cherishing the inherent beauty in the natural evolution of our bodies.
Skeptical? I was too.
But as living testimonies of unique and ever-evolving stories, our bodies are dynamic canvases, offering gifts in every phase.
Through the emotional journey of body confidence, let’s find light in the darkness, recognising that impermanence empowers us to shape our own narratives with resilience and self-compassion.
This isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a personal and emotional odyssey toward self-love.
Navigating the Waves of Change:
A heartfelt Journey to Body Confidence
It’s not unknown to us that we live in a society that are obsessed with unattainable (and unrealistic) beauty standards. The quest for body confidence can be an emotional rollercoaster for all of us, I ride this rollercoaster everyday.
Recently, someone straight up asked me a question that in the past would of sent me spiralling into self-loathing but instead I realised that it resonates with the struggles of most individuals.
The question was, “How can you still love your body when you’ve gained so much weight?” The first thing that came to my mind was the word IMPERMANENCE.
Rather than take this question as personal attack or dismissing their query all together, I realised they were actually asking me because the wanted to know how to move through their body acceptance struggles. So, I want to delve into the concept of impermanence here with you today to share with you what I discovered as a source of solace and something so simple yet profound that transformed my perspective.
The Essence of Impermanence
I first learnt about impermanence when I was backpacking through Nepal in 2018 and for my 28th birthday I booked myself into a 10 day ‘Introduction To Bhuddism Course’ at Kopan Monestary in Katgmandu. It resonated with me so deeply; the teaching and the concept has never left me.
Impermanence, a concept not commonly discussed in the realm of body confidence, is a profound philosophy that teaches us the art of embracing change. It serves as a reminder that every facet of life, including our feelings, thoughts, and bodies, is in a perpetual state of evolution, with each phase bringing its unique beauty and challenges.
A Shift in Focus
The pursuit of the “perfect” body often leaves us feeling exhausting, defeated and unworthy. Embracing impermanence, however, invites a paradigm shift. It encourages us to divert our gaze from the unattainable (and unrealistic) and redirect it towards recognising and cherishing the inherent beauty in the natural evolution of our bodies over time.
You may roll your eyes and think, “I’ve hear all this before.”
You may think, “this is great but it’s easier said than done.”
You may say, “I don’t believe it’s even possible to view myself and my body in this way.”
But I am proof right here that once you decide enough is enough, you seem to find the strength, the drive and the belief that propels you into a new way of thinking.
The Beauty Amidst Change
Our bodies are not monuments frozen in time; they are dynamic canvases that showcase the ebb and flow of our lives. Embracing impermanence invites us to witness and appreciate the beauty in every stage, freeing us from the shackles of societal expectations and fostering a profound connection with our ever-changing selves.
Loving the fact that we get to be babies, young children, teenages, adults, parents, grandparents, even great grandparents.
And in every chapter of our lives along with our age our bodies give us the gifts of living out each phase.
The soft skin of a baby with a beautiful pot belly, the joy of being a child and not yet being poisened by societies body shame, being a teenager and find the pleasure available to us, being an adult and having children or fluctuating through different levels of fitness, being old and finally finding acceptance for what our bodies have allowed us to do in one life time.
IT IS PROFOUND.
The Emotional Journey
Navigating the rough waters of body confidence is an emotional journey that involves us confronting societal pressures, self-doubt, uncomfortable realisation and moments of despair. Along with impermanence, self-love becomes a powerful anchor in this journey, offering ourselves kindness during times of uncertainty and reminding us that no matter what we are going through we deserve to feel love, especially from ourselves.
Finding Light in the Darkness
For those caught in a season where self-love feels elusive and the mirror reflects a narrative of discontent, remember: this too shall pass. Impermanence empowers us to recognise that we are the authors of our stories, capable of shaping the next chapter with resilience and self-compassion. Even in the darkest moments, there is a glimmer of light waiting to guide us toward acceptance and self-love. And if you can’t be this for yourself find someone (like me) who can support you.
Embracing impermanence is not just a philosophy; it’s a deeply personal and emotional journey towards body confidence. As we navigate the complexities of self-image, may we find comfort in the understanding that our bodies are not meant to be stagnant, after all they are energy, and energy is ever flowing. Our bodies are the living testimonies of our unique and ever-evolving stories. Let impermanence be the compass that guides us towards a profound appreciation for the beauty within ourselves, promoting a journey of self-love that transcends societal expectations and embraces the authenticity of our individual narratives.
