Body positivity is a practice. So how do we do it? (Part 2)

Last week I shared two practices you could use to create a body positive mindset. Let's take a look at a few more.

Practice 3: Stop talking badly about yourself.

When was the last time you said something shitty about yourself, either out loud or in your own head? I'd bet a million dollars it happened at least once within the last six hours. Honestly, I'd bet a half a million dollars it happened in the last hour.

Maybe you're trying to beat other people to the punch: how can they hurt you with name-calling when you've already called yourself every name in the book? Or maybe you have the voices of your parents or your exes ringing in your head, instead of the voices of the people who love you and wish you well.

Here's the truth, though: there is no educational, physical, or creative value in talking poorly about yourself.

Let's suppose you show up to yoga class, roll out your mat, and announce, "I suck at yoga." What happens next? All of your struggles become self-fulfilling prophecies: of course this pose feels hard -- you suck at yoga, how else could it feel? Unfortunately, it also turns all your successes into anomalies -- this pose must feel good by accident, because you suck at yoga. You'll leave class unsatisfied, and the chance of you attending another class for your well-being will drop straight into the gutter.

Experiment instead with replacing your value judgement with a statement of actual fact. Instead of saying, "I suck at yoga," try just saying, "I'm practicing yoga." Instead of saying, "I'm old," say, "I'm forty-eight." Instead of saying, "I'll never be able to do this," say, "This dance move is a challenge for me."

By staying with the facts, you allow yourself to have a real experience, unclouded by your accumulated perceptions and biases. Additionally, you create an environment where others feel safe and free from judgment.

Practice 4: Try, try again.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, is a fierce and fearless body positive warrior all the time. I've been actively practicing body positivity since 1999 (26 years!), and I still have trouble with how I look in the mirror sometimes.

On those days, when my mindset is most disrupted, I need my wellness practices like I need oxygen.

You can think of it like reaching for Vitamin C when you're feel yourself coming down with a cold. Maybe you were just at a work party where everyone was describing food as "good" and "bad." Maybe you put on your swimsuit for the first time this year. Maybe you're just tired. Instead of letting self-criticism multiply inside you like a rampant flu virus, recenter and try again.

Come back into your body as a reality, not a concept. Take a drink of water. Feel your feet on the floor. Relax your jaw. Drop your breath into your low belly. Place your hands on your body in a way that feels reassuring. Notice one thing you see right now and one thing you hear. If your brain is buzzing, say, "I hear you, but I'm focusing on something else right now."

Stay there for 30 seconds, or 30 minutes, or three hours. When you're done, try again. We can always try again.

Experiment with these tips a few times this week, and pay attention to how things shift for you. I'd love to hear about your results! Check back next week for a discussion of the critiques of body positivity.