Body Image

Have you ever looked at yourself and liked what you saw?  Maybe yes or may no.  For many, you do  not like what they see in the mirror.  Either you feel that you are to fat, to skinny, your hair is not straight enough or curly enough and the list goes on.

Men and women alike go through this process.  However, I believe this affects primarily women.  Women are very sensitive and always making sure they looking right and looking tight.  The development of a negative body image is rooted in childhood, adds Mary Froning, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist practicing in Washington, D.C.

Our society focuses too much on the physical appearance.  Everywhere girls and women turn, ideals of beauty scream out at them from TV and magazines to the women chosen to be Miss America.  Little girls who grow up outside the "ideal" are often told so in so many words by other children and insensitive adults; a kind of emotional abuse that scars the psyche.  It is invisible to the outside world but indelibly etched in the mind of the receiver, says Dr. Froning. (Foley, Nechas 1993).

This rings true to so many women.  This all starts to spill over into every aspect of any relationship and with themselves.  Women become uncomfortable in their own skin.  Women begin to feel different about their bodies and want to start altering things.  If not a lipsuction, breast implants, breast reduction (for non-medical reasons), excessive dieting and even cosmetic surgery.

Building On The Positive

First Recognize what you think the problem is.  You did not become critical of yourself all on your own.  Look back at your childhood.  Take  notice of what you were being told when you were younger.  Example, you are to fat, you are to skinny you need to gain some weight, etc.

Make some improvements about yourself.  All of course within reason,  example, if you feel that you are overweight or just want to lose a few pounds, then take the necessary steps.  Be mindful that you just want to lose weight so that you can feel better about yourself, improve your health and do not over do it.  Do not become obessive about dieting and working out at the gym.  Some women become so obsessed about losing the weight and keeping it off that they develop serious medical issues such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa.  Be careful and mindful.

Change negative thoughts into positive thoughts.  Many times there are parts of your body that you may not be happy with.  So for example, if you say to yourself that you have small breast, then change that to my breast are just the right size for me.  The same goes for any other body parts. 

Recognize that beauty comes from within. Begin to focus on yourself from the inside.  Identify what you like the most about yourself and build on that instead of the negative.  Believe that you are beautiful and have good qualities.  Feeling beautiful is one thing, believing it is something else.  Begin to change those negative thoughts into positive ones.  Begin to believe that you are worthy, beautiful and the only thing that matters is how you see youself.  It does not matter what anyone else thinks.  You have to live with you and therefore, you must feel comfortable in your own skin.

Do Not Compare Yourself With Others.  It is important to acknowledge and realize that you are who you are and you were made that way for a reason.  However, childhood trauma whether physical, emotional or sexual abuse plays a huge part about how you feel about yourself.  You may feel worthless, have low self-esteem, etc.  That is what you were taught to believe.  In other words, that is learned behavior.  Other situations such as the abuse, is not your fault.  The abuser was reflecting their anger and their pain on you.  So it was not you that was ugly, angry or feeling worthless.

Resources

Adult Health: Low Self-Esteem

Top Ten Facts about Low Self-Esteem

10 Steps for Transforming Negative Thoughts into Positive Beliefs

Featured

                                              The Truth About Negative Energy

                                                 Creating Your Soul's Profile








 

Increase Your Positive Energy

Energy as defined by Dave Watson:  Energy is a property or characteristic (or trait or aspect?) of matter that makes things happen, or, in the case of stored or potential energy, has the "potential" to make things happen.

 

There are three essential things in human beings:

1. The soul or the spirit, the intelligent principle where the thoughts, will and moral sense are found.

2. The body, the material envelope, weighty and rough. The body enables the spirit relate with the material world.
3. The perispirit, the light fluidic envelope, which is the intermediary bound between the spirit and the body.

“Spirits may be defined as the intelligent beings of the creation. They constitute the population of the universe, in contradistinction to the forms of the material world.”  Each one of us is a Spirit, our material bodies exist as extensions of our true spirit selves. Just like a diver uses a wet suit to spend long periods under water.

As spiritual beings in a human body, we can feel the energy within the universe.  Because we are spirits created by the universe, we have free will to do good or do bad.  The spiritual realm has many aspects and it takes a deep understanding of what our purpose is in this life.  We make our own decisions and have many choices.

We as human beings are like vacuum cleaners and suck up all the energy that lingers or floats in the air.  We experience many forms of bad energy.  How do you distinguish bad energy?  You can assess the situation first you should see a doctor for any possible medical issues.  After you get a clean bill of health, then you can proceed to assess your energy.  Sometimes you will feel the back of you neck (the nape area) very heavy as though you are carrying a ton of bricks.  Other forms of bad energy are headaches or aches in your body or a particular part of your body.

You can increase your energy to a positive level.  First and foremost, you have to be a willing participant.  Begin with a daily regimen of meditation or prayer or both.  It is imperative that you practice this on a daily basis as this will make your energy or aura very strong and you will be protected as well.  Begin to change your thought process.  If you are always thinking or saying negative things or look at the negative side of situations, STOP.  Start to change your thought on a more positive level, begin to change the language so that it will always have a positive atonement.

It is imperative to be mindful of the words that you use.  What you put out to the universe will manifest eventually believe it or not.  Practicing yoga, meditation, praying or any other thing that will get you to be still and become in tune with your inner spirit.  Remember, as a spirit we also wear a coat (the material or outer shell).  We tend to live in the material world more than we do in the spiritual world.  By living in the spiritual realm, we become more in tune with not only our inner true selves, our core, our spiritual being. You can and will become more connected and more in tune.  You will begin to feel better and the shift in your energy level. 

    
Keeping in mind that we are spiritual beings, must not we connect to our spiritual source in some form, shape or fashion?  It is so important that you connect with your inner self which will connect with a greater source of powerful energy. Energy that is pure, positive and amazing.  Your life will transform, you will begin to think and feel differently.  The ultimate goal is to raise your awareness and your consciousness to a higher level, a higher plane. 

There are alot of tools that you can use to help absorb the negative energy that we absorb on a daily basis.  I find that using crystals is a fabulous way of cleansing off those negative vibes that weigh you down.  Simply purchase a clear crystal quartz and wash it off well followed by soaking it in a clear glass of water with salt and place it in the window sill for about a week and make sure the sun rays shine on it during the day and the moon at night.  After the first week take it outand say a prayer as you pass it all over your body as though you were taking a bath.  As the crystal passes all over your body, it will absorb all of the negative energy.  After you are done place it back in the cup.  Make sure you clean the water and place fresh water in the cup.

Using an egg is another fabulous way of cleansing yourself from negative energy.  Simply take an egg and run it under water, followed by rinsing it with a little holy water and some cigar smoke.  Say a prayer, a prayer as you pass the egg all over your body to absorb all of the negative energy, especially your head as you want to think clearly and want clarity of mind.

There are so many things we can use, nature offers us alot of things right under our noses to utilize.  As you practice you meditations or yoga in addition with your cleansing routine, you will feel lighter and feel different. 

In closing, we all live in a world of good and bad.  It is a spiritual warfare and we must learn how to stay positive, think positive, and speak positive at all times.  Everything we do or do not do has an affect on us.  So start incresing your positive energy and you will have many different experiences on a whole new level that you never even thought of.  Feel free to share your experiences.
 



Positive Thinking

We live in a world where we are constantly on the run, constantly thinking about the things that we need to do and take care of. We tend to get frustrated and our minds just seem to take over with all kinds of thoughts.

We all have the power of taking control over our minds and our thoughts. It is not an easy task to most people and for others it comes naturally. It is imperative to remain positive at all times no matter what the situation, no matter what we are going through. Yes, it is easier said than done. It takes practice.

Words have a lot of power whether they are negative or positive. Having positive thoughts in every situation no matter what is happening in your life or around you have a major effect. The words we speak are vitally important. Words can set us free, or place us in bondage. Our conversation can literally bring life or death. We must learn how to talk in a new way. A new way is necessary, because the old way, filled with negative words, produced sorrow and unhappiness.(Clowers, 1995)  

There have been some who have said if you speak something long enough, it will happen. There is truth to that statement, but let's clarify it. What happens is that when we speak, whether negative or positive, we give one the right to bring it to pass. Positive words that are conceived in your heart, then formed by the tongue, and spoken out of your own mouth, become a spiritual force, releasing the ability of your positivity within you. (Clowers, 1995)

Ask and allow the universe to cleanse your spirit and your soul. Be conscience of the words you speak. Speak from a place of love instead of hatred. Think before you speak and replace negative words with positive and uplifting words.

Meditation is a great way to get connected and become in touch with the universe. Allowing the universe to work through you and for you. Ask the universe to help you be cognizant of the words you speak and to fill your heart with love. What you feel in your heart will transmit to your thoughts and out of your mouth.

Let’s look at an example, if you lose your job, don't complain. Speak positive words such as, "The universe will provide. The universe has something better for me. The universe directs my path." Don't give into feelings and speak negatively. Negative thinking will make you believe and say things like, "I don't know what we're going to do," or "We'll probably lose the house, the car, the furniture and everything we have." Don't repeat these things even though you may feel like it!

In times of tests and trials, we can learn to speak only positive words, words which are in agreement with the universe. Our words, your words have the power to produce life or death. Evil or negative words affect us both inwardly and outwardly. If we take the love within us and selfishly turn it inward, it will destroy. That is why it is so important to always speak good things.

The choice to either be fulfilled or destroyed by our words is given to each person. We can make the choice to be fulfilled by good words spoken over others and ourselves.(Clowers, 1995)