Lets go beyond the pressures to be perfect or to fit societal norms! Unrealistic beauty ideals, success ideals and wellness standards are systemic and are stealing our joy. Let’s liberate ourselves from the handcuffs of perfectionism and reclaim our confidence and radiance from within.
1: Celebrate your skin and body for its small wins! Rather than waiting for a goal weight, better skin or a personal transformation, how about focusing on and celebrating the small wins. These small wins could look like: honoring your body and resting when you feel tired rather than pushing through and bullying her. Or listening to your skin when she is red or broken out, rather than scoffing at the imperfections. Lets try Appreciating our skin and body for all that it has gotten us through or speaking kindly to ourselves in difficult moments. Celebrate getting up and moving your body or getting dressed and simply showing up for the day! These moments of celebration and gratitude can make a difference on a cellular level for your mood and the way your body responds to you.
2: Speak to your body and skin like you would your best friend or a child. The next time you look in the mirror or find yourself being critical about your appearance, try switching the narrative from “ Ugh, I hate the way —- looks” to “—- allows me to walk, run, smile, cry etc” When you really think about our bodies and skin, they are what allow us to experience life! We are all perfectly imperfect and so much more interesting than our bodies and skin. When you begin to shift the narrative and interrupt the negative thought patterns, you will slowly begin to notice how you feel and talk to yourself. Our body truly listens to everything we say and if we are constantly putting it down, how can it run optimally or heal?
3: Thank your body for what it does day in and day out. Each day that you wake up deserves a moment of gratitude…its as simple as this: If we aren’t aging, then we are dying. Expressing gratitude for your body and skin for allowing you to experience the world through movement, feelings and beauty is an enormous gift. When we begin to see our bodies as instruments rather than ornaments, we allow more time and energy to create, love, experience joy and spread that into the world.
A ritual to enable you to step into your true essence and forget about perfectionism:
Find a moment (10-15 mins) and space to light a candle and be with yourself.
Settle into a comfortable position as you begin to stare into the flame of your candle.
Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Breathe deeply from your belly and into your heart and repeat 3-5 times.
As you settle in to a normal breathing rhythm, begin to focus on your truest self. Envision your highest self, that version of you who is in her happy state flowing with ease.
Soak in her energy and notice what it is about your highest self that makes you uniquely YOU.
Is she playful, calm, light, warm? If there is a scent or image that pops up while you sit with your essence, what would it smell like? Would the image be effervescent, soft flowing water, big waves, bubbles?
Breathe into these feelings and visuals. You have found your essence.
Smile and thank your highest self for coming to play with you. Take a moment to journal and process what makes you YOU. Ask yourself, How can I support myself in staying aligned with my true essence?