Want to make real transformations? Embrace Self-Love!

You are worthy of self-love and acceptance.

And so am I.

And it’s something worth working on. I promise.

Because you can lose all the weight you want, or gain all the muscle you want, or have 18 abs, and it WON'T MATTER UNLESS YOU LOVE AND ACCEPT YOURSELF.

Sure, this is easier said than done. 

Take it from someone who has had the abs they wanted, and believed that that would solve all the self-love problems, and STILL had trouble accepting themselves (hello, it’s me!)…

I literally remember taking this picture, back in 2017??, and thinking this wasn’t “good enough.” And I promise I’m not sharing this to brag… but really to make the point that loving yourself is critical to the process. And I didn’t love myself at that time. Now, looking back, I’m really proud of the effort it took to make these abs happen… and wish I’d had the self-love to go with them. Definitely still a work in progress though.

In a world inundated with messages about attaining the “perfect body”, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that our worth is tied to our physical appearance. We're bombarded with images of flawless bodies, diets promising miraculous transformations, and workout routines guaranteeing sculpted physiques. But amidst this noise, we often overlook the most crucial aspect of our well-being: self-love.

This might sound lame, but true transformation begins from within. It starts with embracing ourselves exactly as we are, flaws and all. It's about recognizing that our worth extends far beyond the numbers on a scale or the reflection in a mirror. We are inherently worthy, deserving of love and acceptance simply by virtue of being human. It’s still okay to want to make changes, if you do, but doing so from a place of acceptance is wayyyyy easier than from a place of dislike.

Self-love isn't about arrogance or narcissism. It's about creating a sense of compassion and kindness towards ourselves. It's about treating ourselves with the same love and care that we readily extend to others. It's about embracing our imperfections and uniqueness.

But, as stated, self-love isn't always easy. It can mean challenging the negative self-talk that whispers we're not good enough, not thin enough, not worthy enough. It means acknowledging our strengths and accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.

So how do we cultivate self-love in a world that constantly tells us we're not enough? It starts with small, intentional acts of self-care. It means prioritizing our mental and emotional well-being as much as our physical health. It means setting boundaries and saying no to anything that doesn't align with our values or nourish our souls.

How can we actually do this?

How do we love and accept ourselves?

Here are biggest answers that comes to me: 

Monitor your self talk.

As humans, we tend to think the worst of ourselves. We say things in our minds that we’d never say to another person. We are capable of analyzing every stretch mark, or pimple, or little bald spot, or spot of cellulite, etc. And also think that every other person around us is noticing those same things about us and judging us for them, while they probably aren’t.

Monitor who you spend time with.

It also means surrounding ourselves with people who uplift and support us on our journey towards self-love. It means seeking out communities where we can share our struggles and triumphs, knowing that we're not alone in our quest for acceptance.

Make self-love a practice.

But perhaps most importantly, cultivating self-love requires patience and perseverance. It's not a destination to be reached but a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth. It's about learning to love ourselves unconditionally, even on the days when it feels hardest.

Here’s the important question…

*Would you say what you’re thinking about yourself/your body to your best friend?*

Likely not. 

Is it constructive to demean your efforts because you still have some cellulite on the backs of your legs?! NO. 

Would you point out the cellulite on someone else?! Likely not. 

Would you tell someone else they shouldn’t be wearing that bikini? Again, likely not. 

In fact, we typically tend to celebrate the efforts and boldness of others and still think we’re not worthy of that same celebration ourselves. 

Where does this self-deprecation come from?? 

I imagine it stems from comparison to hot models, or body builders, or celebrities, or friends or the like. And it’s just not fair. 

So, again, what do we do? 

We need to RELENTLESSLY remind ourselves of our worth, the value of our efforts (even if they’re not perfect), and focus on what we are each trying to achieve without comparison to what other people are doing or what they may look like. 

I recommend developing mantras or grounding statements that resonate with each of us that can help recenter us when these critical thoughts come up. 

After you decide that you wouldn’t say those same thoughts to a friend, bring your mantas to mind to allow yourself to celebrate and focus on YOU. 

These mantas could be things like:

• I am worthy. 

• I love myself. 

• I love my body. 

• I appreciate me and my efforts. 

• I focus on me. 

• I am strong and beautiful. 

• I am strong.

• I accept everything about me.

• I am Beyonce. (Okay, that’s one of mine… because she’s a powerful, badass woman who’s plenty juicy, and has a little cellulite, and has had babies, and shows it off confidently all the time and I love it and want to emulate those vibes!) 

Along these lines, make sure that the things you’re working on are actually things that YOU care about and that you’re not just doing things because of any social ideals or outside influences. 

To be honest, this whole idea will take work. We’ll probably have to work on these things every day forever, but it’s important to stay focused on you and your priorities and how you feel about yourself.

With this all being said, I do not imagine that the answer to this “worthiness” question is to NOT care at all.

Not caring at all can make it difficult to focus on the things you DO want to achieve. But caring less about the opinions of others may be helpful.

In fact, remembering that you have ZERO responsibility for, or impact on, what other people think can be empowering.

So let's make a pact, you and I. Let's commit to loving and accepting ourselves exactly as we are, right here, right now. Let's promise to prioritize our well-being and treat ourselves with the kindness and compassion we deserve. Because when we learn to love ourselves wholeheartedly, the possibilities for transformation are limitless.

You are worthy regardless of what other people think.

Your goals are valid.

Your experiences are real.

You are worthy of self-love and acceptance.

And so am I.

And it’s something worth working on. I promise.

If this is something you’re working on, or want to work on, in relation to your nutrition journey, I’m here to help you and would love to talk. Send me an email at sara@nutritionforlifeproject.com.

As always, thank you for reading,
Sara