Guest Blogger - Ivy Cooper
Anything we desire to flourish must be nurtured. A relationship with oneself is no different. Building a loving relationship with our body and ourselves is just like any other relationship. It must be committed to and nourished daily. The strength of the relationship becomes stronger with each decision we make to choose a healthier, happier life.
If you are an enterprising woman, like me. Then you are probably eager to achieve goals and celebrate accomplishments in your life. Sometimes we can be so busy looking at the “big” things we are working towards, that we forget to acknowledge the small steps along the way. I am learning the art of reverencing the “little things” that I do to love my body and myself. Just like any external relationship, positive reinforcement helps to build trust, intimacy, and a lasting bond. When we choose self love, it positively reinforces our commitment to our relationship with ourselves. So I started noticing the “little” things that I do to love on me. Here are a few:
- Taking the time to sit down and eat a meal, acknowledging the blessings of the nutrients, flavors, and nourishment
- Pausing to give thanks, meditate, and pray before jumping out of bed in the morning
- Taking a short walk for 10-15 minutes in the middle of a busy day.
- Using my favorite body product during a relaxed, meditative bathe
- Painting my toenails a color that makes me feel happy
- Deep conditioning my crown
- Enjoying my favorite fruit during a short moment outside in the fresh air
- Pausing during any moment in the day to inhale and exhale deeply, giving thanks for life
- Looking in the mirror and noticing the things I LOVE about what I see
- Saying those things out loud
The best thing about choosing to love you is that you can start now! It is a choice, followed by small steps everyday to make your relationship with yourself a priority. It doesn’t take a spending frenzy or a two week vacation. You can begin doing the “little things” within your day to love on you.
Questions for Discussion:
Can you relate to any of the little things that I shared?
What are some of the things you do to love you, that you didn’t acknowledge in the past?
What are some new things you can do to build a loving relationship with yourself?
As an agent for social change Ivy founded See Body. Love Self.™ a body positive movement. Through this movement she encourages women to “Embrace your body today. Love yourself always.™” Using the lessons learned in her own body journey, she educates others about how to live a body positive lifestyle. See Body. Love Self.™ advocates releasing judgment of self and others to, embrace a healthy love relationship with ones self. Learn more about Ivy and her positive platform at www.seebodyloveself.org