POP QUIZ: Can you name ONE reason to love your body?

This seemingly simple question is rather difficult for a lot of women. But it’s a fantastic exercise in self-compassion. By tuning your mind to things that you like about your body, it makes it easier to notice them on an everyday basis.

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Take a deep breath….because as a women’s heath coach, I love to encourage women to come up with TWENTY-SIX reasons to love your body!

What? 26?

Yes! Coming up with 26 reasons to love your body may seem like a daunting task. We are so conditioned to notice our body flaws that coming up with just ONE reason to love your body is a challenge….so 26 may seem darn near impossible! But being kind to our selves (and our bodies) is one of the best ways we can live intentionally.

One of my favorite  reflection exercises is to use the letters of the alphabet to guide my thought process. It gives me enough structure to stay focused, but it’s not so prescriptive that I don’t feel like I can be creative. And once I get going (starting is the hardest part!) suddenly 26 reasons to love your body doesn’t seem like so many after all!

If you’re a regular journaler– especially a BuJo queen– this activity is right up your alley. But for those of you who don’t have a regular journaling practice, let me guide you through this so it’s not so scary.

How to Discover 26 Reasons to Love Your Body

Grab your journal. (Don’t have one? I love to gift my clients and friends this one by Erin Condren.)

Find your favorite pen.

Take a deep breath.

To brainstorm 26 reasons to love your body, I suggest using the alphabet to format your love letter. If you’re feeling in a poetic mood, you can link each letter to the next to make one long Ode To Your Body’s Awesomeness.

For example:

Amazing stamina, which allows me to undertake exciting activities,

Build confidence, and enter into friendly

Competition with myself. By pushing myself, I

Develop strong legs…huge thighs that provide near boundless

Energy.

And so on from there….

If you don’t fancy yourself a wordsmith, you can still use the 26 reasons to love your body format to help you appreciate everything your body does for you every day.

Simply make a list!

Arms to hug my family

Birthed three babies

Chuckles, laughs, giggles, guffaws

Dives into water, to feel the freedom of bouyancy

Eats (and enjoys) dark chocolate

And so on from there…

If you’d like to try the 26 reasons to love your body exercise, I’ve made a printable for you to use.

And don’t worry: there are no rules! There is no requirement to work in alphabetical order. Simply make notes as your mind recognizes each amazing thing your body has done or what it allows you to do each day.

I suggest taking a few minutes of quiet, centered breathing to prepare you. Having a body positive mindset doesn’t come easily to a lot of women. You may struggle at first, but I think you’ll find it gets easier. When you connect your mind and body with gratitude, your inner voice becomes more positive and encouraging.

Flipping the script that you use to talk to yourself is a fantastic way to reduce stress. It takes practice, but it is simple and you can do it anywhere. This completely free act of self-care has the power to radically change your life. Think of how much better you would feel about yourself and your body with less stress every day. You’d be unstoppable!

Best wishes as you discover (at least!) 26 Reasons to Love Your Body!

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