Appreciating the Human Body
This article explores how to treat our bodies better through forgiveness, naturalism, and forgoing expectations from others. By Zane Landin.
(Photo by Hanna Postova on Unsplash)
Every single body is beautiful and sacred
Each body tells an incredible story of the soul that holds it. It is a potent symbol of sincerity, purity, and rebirth — a canvas the world can delineate to see the beauty within us. Every movement is intimate, and every gesture is authentic. How we came to be is linked to the roots of which we walk, heal, and traverse.
Since our soul connects to our body, we should take care of it as much as possible. This treatment includes how we feel about it because thoughts and what we do to it physically are powerful.
The Power of Our Thoughts
Masaru Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water can exhibit changes when subjected to specific, concentrated thoughts. After conducting several experiments, he observed that water from clear springs was exposed to loving words displaying exquisite, intricate, and multicolored snowflake patterns.
As our bodies comprise over 70% water, how we feel about our bodies will transform the water molecules. If we continue to tell ourselves our bodies are unworthy or ugly, we will believe it. While everyone has some complex about their body, we should take the time to celebrate the entire human body. Appreciate what it does, how it allows us to live, and feel grounded in it.
The True Meaning of Body Positivity
Recently, body positivity has become only about accepting your body. While we shouldn't only be concerned with our bodies' appearance, we must also care for them. This piece of the body positivity conversation is missing. Individuals should feel empowered to make healthy body changes to improve their self-image and well-being.
There is nothing wrong with making changes to your body if you do it in a healthy way that you believe will enhance your outlook on life. We shouldn't let our fears dictate how we will live our lives.
Many people experience issues with their bodies with eating disorders, dysmorphia, and just general discomfort. Social media is a cesspool not only for depicting unrealistic body standards but also for active engagement in body shaming. No matter what or who it is, no one deserves to experience any form of body shaming, objectifying, and humiliation.
At the heart of these inquiries is the recognition that the body is not just a physical object but a vessel for human understanding and consciousness, a site of pleasure and pain, and a symbol of human potential and limitation. While there is a duality between the consciousness and the physical body, they are heavily connected.
If we set good intentions, be patient with ourselves, and treat our bodies with the love they deserve, we will see a change happen over time. We have a duty to treat our bodies with love by eating consciously and forgiving ourselves when we decide to eat something we desire.
The Benefits of Naturalism
We always need to be clothed for protection, but underneath our clothes, everyone has a naked body. We were born into this world naked, so being that way helps us connect to our roots. This is why many people claim being nude makes them feel better about their bodies. If you ever have a chance to attend a nude resort or beach, it is an uplifting experience.
Being nude is more than taking off your clothes. When you are in a well-intentioned space to be naked with other people, there is already a step of vulnerability taken. It isn't easy for someone to show their body in that way — it's already hard enough for people to feel good about their body clothed. Being nude with others equalizes you, and sometimes, you may feel more confident and less ashamed of your body. Being naked can help you feel more grounded and relaxed and even support your mental health.
The Distortion of Sexualization
While we should have the freedom to express ourselves sexually in the appropriate setting, the beauty of nudity is aside from sexuality. We can express ourselves sexually and sensually without clothes, but there is nothing sexual about the naked body. Unfortunately, distorted images of pornography and the media have created a false picture of the human body. It creates unrealistic expectations; we compare our bodies to what we think is ideal. True liberation with our bodies is when we cease to compare it to what we think people want.
Embracing Our Bodies
The fundamental beauty of the body isn't about aesthetics, but the resistance to traditional forms of beauty. We shouldn't change to satisfy the darkness in other hearts, those who don't have any power over our bodies. We must focus on the wonders and realities of human beauty in every form. Then, we can create a more body-positive awareness and normalize the diversity of the human body. It is time we embrace the inner power we have to illustrate what true beauty is.
Zane Landin is a mental health advocate and writer. He is passionate about social justice, storytelling and spirituality. Follow Zane on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zanelandin/