I don't feel like answering this! It makes me sad--again. This is feeling a little bit like a journey through the things I lack. I don't feel integrated with my body. I often feel like my body fights against me or that I fight against it--we are definitely at war too often. I frequently catch myself thinking that I hate myself, and when I'm thinking that it's really my body, my physical self that I am railing against. So, no. There are no moments of integration, but I want them very much.
Lest this seem all dark and dreary with no shiny lining, I am doing something to make this happen. I was going to post about this later this week, but apparently now is the time. I am building an art journal group to focus on body--weight loss (or gain--whatever each of us needs), exercise, most especially acceptance and building self-esteem and self-love. Creating bodies we can live in, love in, appreciate, love.
So, if you also want to get comfortable with your body, make healthy changes in a kind and compassionate way, learn to revel in your physical self, you're invited to join in. (And feel free to grab the image for a button on your blog if you like--there's a smaller version in the sidebar, too.)
One note--this is not something I'm doing as part of my professional coaching services although it may turn into some sort of e-book or course or something in future. Right now, this is just me putting together some prompts and ideas and research to help myself and hopefully help those who come along for the ride. I think it's going to be fun, but none of this is stuff I've tried before, so we'll all be doing everything together, no leaders, no followers, just companions.
2 comments:
Kim:
Thanks so much for stopping by my journal. I really appreciate it. We seem to be kindred people. One of my goals for 2011 is to start working on Art Journals and expanding my work in mixed media and collage. I have some ideas that I want to pursue in terms of body image and I could definitely see that outcome becoming more of an integrated Art Journal about my personal body image.
In the "Course in Weight Loss" by Marianne Williamson, there is an exercise where we write two letters. One from our not-so-thin self to our thin-self and visa versa. I am finding a real peace inside. Just today I realized that my body has been my best friend all of these years and has taken a lot of abuse from me (with all of the overeating and bad foods). I apologized to my body. Backing up to the letters, I found the tone was so loving. They talked to each other like sisters. I even made a peace treaty in my journal. I think you'll find your journal will be a great place to explore your thoughts and feelings. I use a lot of SoulCollage in this process too. You may find the book to be helpful.
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