How often have we taken something our bodies can do only once they've stopped? Like appreciating all the times you could eat a full dinner once you have a vomiting bug. Or being able to breathe through your nose after a head cold. Or being able to carry a healthy baby.
Seriously, bodies, ALL BODIES, are amazing. They nurture us, allow us to move, hug, express emotion.
But in today's image-obsessed culture it can be so easy to overlook all the positives about ourselves. We're not the first to be caught in the "I'm too fat/thin/old/hairy/wobbly/covered in stretch marks" trap and we bet we won't be the last.
Dr Jessica Alleva of the Maastricht University in the Netherlands has a simple trick that will allow you to completely change your mindset when it comes to your body.
In an article in Psychology Today, Alleva suggests that instead of focussing on what your body looks like, focus on what it can DO.
It's only a small shift in perspective to grasp, but in practice is can be deceptively difficult. Alleva writes that instead of focusing on your body’s appearance, focus on its functionality.
"We live in an appearance-obsessed culture," she explains. "We know that intuitively, but research backs it up, too. Research also shows that focusing too much on our appearance can make us feel badly about our bodies, especially when we focus more on how our bodies look than on what our bodies can do.
"By training people to focus on their body functionality, we can help them to regain a more balanced perspective towards their bodies."
But what exactly is body functionality? It is the internal processes, movements and expressions that we take for granted in our daily lives.
She suggests focussing on body functionality that is meaningful to your life, for example; “My body can give my children a hug and be a shoulder to cry on, and this helps me to express my love for my family.”
This, Alleva continues, "can also help people to appreciate the things their bodies can do that are often taken for granted."
According to her research, there are several ways to appreciate your functionality.
Firstly, you can acknowledge that no matter what you're doing, or where you are, your body is keeping you alive. It's a complex system all made out of things designated to keep you alive. Which, let's face it. Is pretty impressive.
However, Alleva notes that “body functionality is not limited to able-bodied individuals,” adding, “For example, even if someone is not able to walk, that does not mean that he or she does not have a functional body. After all, body functions are diverse, and each body is functional in its own way.”
Another way of embracing body functionality is through sensations. Whether that’s the happy feeling you get from eating your favourite food or bopping your favourite tune, those little pleasures make you the unique individual you are. Alternatively, you can focus on your creative pursuits, which can include singing and shaking your booty to that favourite song.
You can also appreciate your bodies ability to communicate non-verbally. Appreciating acts such as giving your loved ones a hug can be a powerful tool of self-expression.
Finally, if that still seems like too much, focus on the ability to care for yourself. To simply have a shower, brush your hair, paint your nails.
Some simple ways to actually achieve this appreciation for body involve writing down what your body does that you’re most grateful for and storing them in a place you’ll frequently see them (by your bed, in the bathroom, or at your desk, for example). Another is checking in throughout the day about how you feel and figuring out the little things that make you feel better.
These little steps can help you feel more appreciative of your own body without going through crazy detoxes or beating yourself up over not looking like a model. Sometimes simply feeling neutral about your body is the best gift you can give it.
Lets keep positive 2018 going guys!
