Of all the things I expected from body acceptance (and that list was very long, trust me), what never even crossed my mind is that it would greatly simplify my life. But it has.
I don’t think we talk often enough about the tangible, unexpected ways body acceptance affects our lives. I think we all hear about embracing wearing fun clothes, or your self-talk shifting, or no longer wanting to participate in all those body-bashing conversations. I’ve shared about many of those things myself. But today I want to share from a different angle.
When you read the ways body acceptance has simplified my life, it might not be abundantly clear why body acceptance has anything to do with it whatsoever. But the reason all these things are connected, and connected to body acceptance, is that body acceptance helped me know my body better. And my truth is located in my body; I connect with it through gut feelings, listening for my yeses and nos, noticing how I feel when I consider one decision over another, becoming aware of how I’m feeling day to day overall, and so much more.
And what that has meant for me, very unexpectedly, is that it has become easier to make decisions, to know what’s right and wrong for me, to pull the plug on something that isn’t working or move forward with something that is, to figure out what I like and don’t, etc.
So let’s get into some examples:
I no longer take every online course, sign up for the latest “health” craze, or buy every new face cream that comes my way (I mean, I still buy a few, but come on). I limit the amount of that info that comes my way, and when it does, I consider whether it’s actually right for me. I check in with my body and see what response is being created: is it the pit in the belly of FOMO? Then it’s probably not for me. Is it a zing of curiosity? Then maybe it is. I can investigate further — and sleep on it. I can’t tell you how many nonsense things I avoid buying now that I build in a little breather to see if I still even remember it the next day or so — much less actually still want it!
I run my business in a way that’s aligned with my values and doesn’t make me feel gross — because it matters to me that I share with you in a way that I want to be shared with myself. I used to follow all the social media advice and post a bunch of times each day on each platform, but then I realized — I hate doing it! And also, as a consumer of other people’s social media, I found it exhausting to see all of that but invigorating to see a little nugget here or there from people I like. I realized that’s what I wanted to offer, too. I also don’t use any marketing techniques that focus on any feelings of lack or not enoughness you might have. There’s enough of that nonsense in the world (far more than enough, actually!), and I’m not about to use the tactics of industries like the diet and beauty industry here. We’re working on overturning that and helping you find your way to the best source of wisdom in terms of what’s best for you out there: you.
I’m not trying to build Curvy Yoga to be the biggest it can be. I want it to be the best it can be within a particular scope, but I’ve learned that doesn’t mean it needs to be the biggest. I’ve had people tell me I could and should get investors, or build a huge team, or have instructors in name-brand gyms across the country. None of that is bad in and of itself, but it’s not what I’m interested in. I’ve always been interested in offering tools to both students and teachers that they can take into their life and apply how they find helpful. I’m a big believer in that local level effect, and I think there’s potency in people integrating things into their own lives and sharing them how is most resonant for them.
I choose what comes into my life as consciously as possible in the moment (which is sometimes less, sometimes more). It’s super easy to fall into the comparison trap online and get stuck there indefinitely. “Why does this person have more followers than me?” “How come that person got x and I didn’t?” “I’ll never be as fill in the blank as that person!” Ugh. Some people suggest rising above when you have those kinds of thoughts, and listen, I tried that. But you know what I found to be much easier? Unsubscribing, unfollowing, and otherwise curating the information that flows into my life. This isn’t burying my head in the sand; in fact, it’s basically the opposite. Without my head buried in the sand of comparison, I have the time, energy, and creative bandwidth to be present for what really matters.
I have way less clothes — and I like them all way more. I don’t exactly have a uniform, but I’m not far off it. I like and wear everything in my closet. Most importantly of all, it all fits and is comfortable. I realized I don’t enjoy being uncomfortable in what I wear. Ha! It feels ridiculous to say that, but it’s amazing how much of a revelation it is, isn’t it? From underwear to pants to yoga clothes to shoes and everything in between, it’s all comfort all the time for me. One of the big reasons for this, besides that it feels good, is that I noticed that when I wear clothes that are uncomfortable, it makes me extra aware of my body in a negative way. The attention is negative because I’m uncomfortable, but my brain translates that into my body being a problem, which starts a body hating spiral. And, really, there are enough things in life that can kick that off. I don’t really need my clothing, something I paid for, to add fuel to the fire. I mean, seriously!
When I was in my dieting days, I thought I knew where my life was headed. Or, at least, I knew where I wanted it to go — thinness. Plus, everything being perfect once I was thin. I was very narrowly focused (pun intended, ha!) and didn’t see anything else for myself. And, of course I didn’t! It wasn’t possible for me to imagine what might be waiting for me once hating on my body wasn’t occupying 90% of my brain space at any given moment.
So while body acceptance has lead me towards simplifying things in my life (at least for now — who knows what lies ahead), that may or may not be true on your path. But what I feel confident in saying is that the journey takes you to different places because you, yourself, are different. Or, maybe a better way to say it is that you open yourself to new possibilities. New ways of seeing. New ways of being. And there’s no telling where that will lead.