Develop your Get REAL Body Image Re-Think! (Part I)

Hey friends, I wanted to give a shout out to all the young people out there. I am a HUGE supporter of a Get REAL approach to life, REAL being--Realistic Expectations About Life. I have been through a crazy world of up and down, secure and insecure. What it is has taught me is an incredible message that I want to pass on to you. No one can make you feel “less than” unless you let them.

That may sound a little strange, but let it sink in. Throughout my life I have made mistakes and I have grown from everyone one of them. Without tests in life you will never have a testimony. In fact most people just end up with the monies. They allow what people say about then to shape how they feel about themselves. Big mistake, big--huge, don’t go there. You are an amazing and unique person. There is no one else like you, with your gifts and your capacity.

It is time to stop trying to conform to what others look like. Be the best YOU that you can create. Play up your strengths and keep your focus on them. If you constantly think of what you don’t like, that is what others will see too. Forget that! Keep your attention clearly focused on your special qualities. Energy flows to where your attention goes, so keep your attention on what makes you special.

What you look like has less to do with your body shape and more to do with your inner attitude and spirit. What you project from your spirit will show in your actions, mannerisms and charisma. All else is false. You have all been given different shapes, sizes and features. They make you who you are. Learn to rock your uniqueness.

Does how you look matter? In a way yes. Are you doing all you can do with what you have? That is the key. When you go out, do you project the YOU that is on the inside? Taking time to be healthy, eat right, exercise and care for your mental health are more important than what a scale says. My Goal is to help young women ditch the goal of being skinny and embrace a lifestyle of living healthy.

To showcase that goal I have created twenty steps to help you uncover your true beauty. They are:

1. Discover what qualities make you different
2. Create a plan to honor what makes you special
3. Define what you are good at and build on those things
4. Discover and accept what you are not strong in, and don’t waste time on them
5. Release old thinking about superficial beauty and its tie to your body image
6. Establish your core values and personal boundaries
7. Take time to understand the “why” behind your values and what you believe
8. Spend time developing your talents and hobbies daily
9. Read inspirational and informative books
10. Stay aware of what is happening in the world and develop an informed opinion
11. Be aware of techno-excess and place value on face to face and handwritten expression
12. Surround yourself with uplifting and encouraging friends and mentors
13. Distance yourself from toxic or negative people
14. Seek out ways to help others and volunteer your time
15. Begin to take time daily to exercise your body, invest in your health
16. Fuel your body with water and nutritious, healthy food
17. Care for your skin and body, create a daily routine
18. Seek ways to relax and manage stress
19. Stop negative thoughts immediately and insert a positive message
20. Always smile and radiate confidence, joy and compassion to all that you meet

Lisa Schilling RN, CPT
www.getrealwellnesssolutions.com