2 Reasons Your Super-Powers Might Be Hiding
I’m constantly astounded by the power of the women I have the privilege to work with.
But here’s the thing…
Even though they’re brimming with strength, beauty and courage, they rarely recognize these attributes in themselves until we do the good work of mining them out.
There are many reasons for this but, because I’m a wellness coach, I see two influences most often:
CULTURAL MESSAGES around dieting and thinness - which have told us loud and clear since we were teenagers that we are not OK as we are.
FAMILY MESSAGES - Many of the older women in our lives believed these cultural messages too. They didn’t know they were beautifully acceptable just as they were either.
How we feel about our bodies and food now was deeply shaped back then by the expectations, beliefs, fears and words of the adults we grew up with.
This is not to blame; most of them did the best they could with what they knew at the time.
But now.
Now, it’s our turn.
And we have the priceless gift of hindsight on our side.
Now we know.
We know that restrictive dieting and unrealistic expectations of body-perfection have caused great harm and decades of pain.
And since we know it, the dysfunction can stop with us.
Sisters, mothers, aunts, friends, grandmoms, teachers - let’s courageously step into the privilege and responsibility of the influence we now hold.
Together, those of us who wish we’d never been tortured by the relentless scrutiny of the bathroom scale can leave a legacy of freedom by boldly walking in our own liberation.
And even though the diet industry is still cranking out empty promises, we can decide we’re not going to give them one more inch of ground!
Because of our own decades of struggle, we know that one of the greatest things we can give to those younger is the gift of valuing our own bodies, minds and spirits at every age and every stage.
Imagine…
Imagine what will happen as little girls, teenagers and young women see us go from year to year gracefully welcoming changes, laughing easily, and walking with confidence and joy…comfortable in our own skins.
Just imagine…
Imagine their peace - their relief - as our lives assure them that life can get deeper and richer with each passing year, instead of conveying the empty message that we wish we were younger.
Dear strong, beautiful, courageous sisters…
Let’s love our fifties.
Flaunt our sixties.
Enjoy our seventies and eighties with reckless abandon.
Be proud of our nineties and beyond.
Let’s make ‘em wish they were our age!
May they see us, in large numbers, growing more vibrant and alive with each passing year, because we know –
It’s not about the number on the scale.
It’s not about the year on the birth certificate.
It is about showing up as genuinely and as bravely as we know how for these glorious messy lives of ours.
This is a super-power more potent than any kryptonite.
As we leave this legacy, those coming behind us just might escape the food-anxiety and body-shame we’ve worked so hard to heal.
*Note: This awesome 1967 photo is of my husband’s mom, sister, cousin and aunt - women of unique strength, beauty and courage.