Nourish Your Mind, Body, Spirit: Ideas from Karen Peck

Getting the best body I can has been a goal of mine since I'm 12 years old. I recently found a diary from those days and in it is the sentence, "I need to lose ten pounds." That could have been yesterday's entry. I've been on "diets," "eating plans," "programs," you name it. I lose it, I find it. I lose it again. I work out. A lot. I obsess, I do the squinting critic role in the mirror. I have loathed, punished, prodded, begged, shamed, and failed my body.

I realized all the beliefs I held about myself. Consider:

"I am one of those people who just looks at food and it shows up on my hips."
"I'll be strong, but I'll never be thin."
"I can lose it, but I can't keep it off."
"I'm afraid of loss--including weight loss."
"I have a lousy metabolism."
"Life is better when you are thin."
"I'll be happy when I'm thin."
"Even at a normal weight, people won't think I'm thin."

Finally, all these decades later, it occurred to me: It's not about my will power, my body, my metabolism, or finding the best program. It's about my spirit. I realize that my spirit needs the nourishment before I can properly nourish my body. My spirit needs to be free in order for my mind to stop playing games with me. We need love, comforting, affirmation, before we can treat our bodies with love, comfort, affirming kindness.

I've explored some of the 12 step literature out there, but really what it comes down to is recognizing our need for love--from ourselves.

But how to tap our higher selfs, our spirit? How to change our minds? I spent some time coming up with an affirmation that spoke to me. It is this:

"I am so happy with and grateful for my body. Now that I love and accept my body I am at peace." I say this multiple times a day.

When I first said this affirmation, out loud to a caring friend, I almost burst into tears. Even while trying to smile while saying it. Now, after many weeks and months I can say this and almost believe it. Remember to honor progress, not to seek perfection. My affirmation is a way to directly speak to my soul, my spirit, my higher self. Some say, it's a way of God speaking to the real you. When I think this way, the negative mythology vaporizes. If I love my body, it is just right regardless of whether I'm "up" or "down" in weight. If I am grateful, it's not too slow, too heavy, or a poor metabolizer of food. If i am intrinsically happy and grateful, what I ate that day, wise or unwise, would not make me less likely to experience happiness.

So for me, changes are coming, and they started first with my spirit, and then with my mind. The body you desire will follow, and without the pain and shame cycle. As a result, today my body is carrying less stored fat, and more muscle, and I am grateful for all it does.

How about challenging those self-defeating myths above and replacing them with:

"I can look at food for the nourishment and pleasure it brings. I make healthy choices for a healthy body."
"I am strong and healthy and my size is where I need to be right at this moment."
"I am grateful for my healthy choices today. Please help be make healthy choices tomorrow."
"My body is functioning perfectly."
"I attain the goals I set out to achieve."

See if you can come up with some that are meaningful for you. Post them around the house. Say them often. Share them with others you love. Gratitude, love, and acceptance is contagious!

Recommended Tools:

I find the works of Esther Hicks/Abraham very helpful to me in keeping my focus on spirit and mind. I recommend getting a feel for affirmations by trying this wonderful card deck by Esther and Jerry Hicks entitled, Ask and It is Given.

Here's a sample I pulled just for this moment:

"First, I Reach for Joy, and All Else Follows." The front of the card has a simple one-line affirmation and beautiful full-color illustration. The back of the card talks about the concept in detail.

What a great way to set your intention for the day. Just pull a card out at breakfast.

Here is a direct link to purchase from my Amazon.com store, "Facilitate Your Wellness." I specially select my favorite mind-body-spirit books, music, and products because I use them myself and have see them bring comfort, peace, and joy to my clients! As an affiliate, I receive a small percentage of sales. So if you are interested, please consider purchasing through me.

(Copy and paste link into new tab)
http://astore.amazon.com/karpecmasbod-20/detail/1401910513

So, go ahead and change your body if you want. But start with your spirit and mind.

Enjoy and Be Well!

Karen

www.karenpeckmassage.com