Change: The Body and Mind

I’ve recently talked a lot about change in terms of location and routine in regard to college. I explained that change is a good thing, even if it is uncomfortable. I haven’t talked about changes in our bodies and minds, both the voluntary and the involuntary. Sometimes we make changes ourselves, and other times our hormones or situations make change. 

The Body:

There is such a negative stigma around growing bodies, but our bodies are bound to change. We will get bigger, smaller, wider, etc. Our weight distribution will change. One day we’ll feel like we look incredible and then next we’ll think we look horrible. This is when the mind tricks the body. Our mood and emotions play a large role in how we view ourselves, but what if we take that variable away? We can replace judgement with love. Your body is the least important thing about you, and it will fluctuate. Our bodies are here to protect us. The body is not the enemy. 

Realize that your body did not drastically change in 24 hours. Sometimes it feels like we gain 200 pounds from one day to the next. Our bodies may change on their own and we may not like it, but it won’t happen all at once, and it isn’t the end of the world. 

Stop comparing your body to your friends’ bodies and your past body. You are not going to have the same body you did when you were 12 and that’s a good thing. We get stronger, we experience life a little more. 

Don’t miss out on experiences just because you want to stay the same. I’m not saying to indulge every time, but when it feels right do so and do it without guilt. So many positive memories are built around late night pizza runs or birthdays filled with sugar. 

It’s ok to want to look good, but know that during this process your brain will try to convince you that you aren’t beautiful. You can want change for your body, but still practice self-love. You can be in the process of change, yet not compare. Goals are great, hatred is not. You can want to change how you look and still appreciate where you are. The journey to your best self is the whole point. What are we living for if not for the journey. The good and the bad. 

Always remember that movement is medicine. It is your time for you. A time to get out of the mind and into the body. You can tune into what you need and what your body craves. Our bodies love to move. They love to get curious through self exploration and a key part of this exploration is activity. 

Motivation and want won’t always be there. It can take time for you to show your body how delicious movement is. You will never regret exercising. Just start. Show up and see what happens. If you aren’t into it, you’ll know. 

Learn the difference between pushing yourself to be better and pushing yourself to your breaking point. 

The other day I put on a pair of jeans and oh boy were they tight. A common reaction is to feel bad about how you look, but that isn’t the answer. Growth is great. Instead of judgement, I reflected. I have been getting stronger which has been my goal. My booty and thighs have gotten bigger and that means my jeans are going to fit a little together than usual. As our bodies evolve, clothes will fit us differently. 

The body is a beautiful and powerful force. Let it be. 

The Mind: 

Just as you can choose to change the body, you can change the mind too. Mindset is everything. The way you frame things matter. The way you speak to yourself and what goes on in your brain matters. Choose your words and thoughts about yourself just as carefully as you would with others. 

Know what you need to shift your perspective. Maybe its friends, journaling, meditating, exercising, or napping. You won’t always be able to shift your mind at the time you want or in the way that you want, but making the effort to do so is all that matters. 

I notice that sometimes we stay in one frame of mind not because it is how we actually feel, but because either we have associated our personality with that emotion/mindset or because we have decided that we can’t change how we feel today so we don’t even try. You don’t have to make a definitive decision on what your emotion is for the day or even the moment. No need to force or judge, just let your emotions flow in and out as they please. 

On another note, we so often get stuck in our own ways that we don’t listen to the opinions of others around us because we want to be right. Learn to listen and be open-minded. There is so much to learn. Being wrong is a great thing it means you are adapting and listening. 

Our minds can trick us into thinking we can’t, but just know that you can. You are capable of what you put your mind to. 

The mind is funny and weird and wild. Recognize it and stay curious about it. One of the funniest things to me is we can hear something a million times, but sometimes we need the million and one time to get the message to click. Similarly, we can hear the same message from our parents as we do a friend and choose to ignore one or the other. 

Allow both the body and the mind to be a safe and peaceful yet strong and powerful space. Mind and body is where your soul lives, create the environment you know will nourish it and allow it to thrive.