Respect and Appreciate Your Body: Make Friends for Life

Honoring Your Body: A Path to Self-Respect and Mindful Eating

How often do we stop and truly appreciate the miracle that is our body? In a world filled with messages telling us we should look a certain way, eat a certain way, and be a certain way, it’s easy to forget that our bodies are not projects to be fixed—they are life itself, carrying us through each day with incredible resilience.

During one of my in-person Eat for Life classes at Whole Yoga Studio, we explored this idea through a powerful exercise on respecting and appreciating the body. Each participant was asked to write down a part of their body they commonly judge or criticize—something they wished was different. Along with that, they wrote the negative thoughts and body talk that often accompanied it.

One student wrote down her belly. Her thoughts were:

“I hate my belly.”
“My belly is too fat.”

Then, with trust and courage, she whispered these words into her partner’s ear. Her partner, following the instructions of the exercise, whispered the words back to her—but with one change: she used "you" instead of "I."

"You hate your belly."
"Your belly is too fat."

Hearing someone else say these words aloud was shocking. It felt harsh, cruel—something you would never say to a friend. And in that moment, the student realized just how hurtful and unkind she was being toward her own body.

The next step was to rewrite the story—to replace self-judgment with something factual and non-judgmental.

She wrote:

✅ "I have appreciation for my belly."

 ✅ "My belly carried my babies."

And then, the tears came. Because it was true. The exercise gave her space to be vulnerable, to challenge the negative script she had carried for years, and to recognize the beauty in what her body had done for her. In that moment, her relationship with her body shifted—from hatred to appreciation. And that changed everything.

Journaling as a Mindfulness Hack

One of the most powerful tools I’ve found for shifting my own thoughts and behaviors is journaling. When I take the time to write down my feelings and experiences, I integrate them more fully. And when I integrate my thoughts and emotions, my behaviors often shift naturally—without forcing change. It’s like a mindfulness hack.

So, I’d love to invite you to reflect. I’ve answered all of the questions, but you can answer those that resonate with you:

✅ What feel-good things can you do for your body today?
For me, it’s taking the time to bring my lunch with me to work and eat outside in the fresh air. It seems small, but making space to slow down and nourish myself is an act of respect.

✅ What is the most positive reason for accepting your body? What is the scariest?
The most positive reason? Because I want to model self-acceptance for my daughter and for the youth I teach yoga and mindfulness to. I want them to see that respecting your body is possible.

The scariest part? That I’ll get lazy about self-care. But when I sit with that fear, I realize that appreciating my body doesn’t mean neglecting it—it means being grateful that I can move, because I love to move.

✅ Where does your idea of the “perfect body” come from?
This one is uncomfortable for me, but when I was young, I remember finding some Playboy magazines. I thought, That must be what adults think is beautiful. It’s not the only thing that shaped my idea of the "perfect body," but it’s the first thing that comes to mind.

Over the years, my definition of "perfect" has completely changed. I used to think it meant flawless, ordered, controlled. Now, I see perfection in nature—in spring blossoms, in untouched snow in the mountains. I no longer think perfection has much to do with people.

✅ If you accepted your body as it is right now, how would that change your life?
I think I would be at complete and total ease with myself. I believe my body and mind reflect one another, so if I felt at ease in my body, my mind would be more peaceful too.

✅ What are you putting off doing until you lose weight?
Nothing. I've completely let go of the idea that weight loss is necessary for living my life. I’ve observed that my body changes seasonally—in the winter, I crave hearty foods with more fat; in the summer, I naturally gravitate toward fresh fruits and veggies because I love being active.

✅ If you accepted your eating habits and your body, what could you learn about yourself?
I could learn to trust my body—to listen to what it truly needs rather than what my mind or external influences tell me it should want.

✅ What truly makes a person attractive?
To me, attractiveness has nothing to do with weight, age, or appearance. It’s about ease, presence, and kindness. I find someone attractive when they have a relaxed voice, soft eyes, and a sense of quiet joy—not one that they need to prove to the world, but one they carry within themselves.

The Cultural Challenge of Self-Respect

Of course, listening to and respecting our bodies isn’t always easy—especially in a culture that constantly tells us we aren’t enough. Before diving deeper into this topic, I encourage you to watch these short but powerful videos:

▶️ Dove Inner Critic
▶️ Dove Mothers & Daughters Confront Toxic Social Media

These videos highlight just how deeply the media influences our body image. We are constantly absorbing messages that tell us we should be thinner, smoother, younger. But what if we stepped out of that narrative?

Final Thoughts

Respecting your body doesn’t mean following someone else’s rules—it means understanding what respect looks like for you.

This week, I encourage you to journal on just one or two of the questions above. Let yourself explore what respect, appreciation, and self-kindness mean in your life.

Let me know in the comments—what does respect mean to you? 💛