I am a beautiful person
This is not going to be an insightful or even remotely academically-based post — nope, just something that’s on my mind today: Positive Self Talk (PST). I have to know… does this actually help anyone? If you are having a lousy body image day and stand in the mirror and tell yourself that you are a beautiful person… do you feel better? Because on these days when I am truly depressed over weight or self-image or the like, there is NO self-love coming out of my mouth. These are days where I avoid the mirror and scale at all costs and wear clothing that I know will absolutely fit… and when I try my hardest to distract myself with work and friends and my dog and to not wallow in my bad body image-inspired depression.
Now, there are some “better” days where maybe my jeans are tight and I’ll make excuses for myself… I ate 300% of my DV of sodium yesterday or I just pulled them out of the wash or something… but still, I am never in the mood to plant myself in front of the mirror with a list of affirmations.
I only bring this up because a certain body image therapist highly recommends that I practice some PST… and I have to know if others get something out of this. I’m really not writing this post out of ignorance but out of frustration. Please–change my mind about it.
On “fat days” (and I’m having one right now actually), my positive self talk is more about how weight fluctuations are perfectly normal and reminding myself of the hell my life was when I was anorexic and how much I would choose “feeling fat” once in awhile over living with anorexia. Then I remind myself to take some pride in my recovery (and my recovered body), since it has been such a difficult journey. Basically, I talk to myself, but its not the “I am beautiful” type of self talk. This does work pretty well for me.
Self talk does work, and the more you do it the best your life gets. Also, a personal development plans will transform you and your life. Change your thoughs change your life!
Hi, (still loving the new format!)
I read somewhere and I have no reference (sorry!) that when we have a negative thought ie recall a traumatic or negative experience then our unconscious experiences it as if for the first time – hence if you think about a negative event over and over you’re just experiencing it over and over and this is the kind of thing that creates downwards spirals in depression. The theory of course is that if you consciously replace these thoughts with a positive feeling or experience then the opposite effect occurs.
I’m not sure I agree of course but I just thought I’d throw the theory out there.
BTC