I was in my favorite class dance class the other day when the instructor said something like this:
“Do the best you can with the body you brought in the room today.”
This statement really hit me. It was just what I needed to hear, and got me thinking:
What if there was nothing I wanted to change about myself or my life?
What would life be like for all of us if we accepted ourselves, our homes, our bodies, our bank accounts, our jobs, our partners for what they actually are – instead of wishing they were something different. How many times a day do you find yourself saying:
I wish my paycheck were just a little bit more…
or
I wish my boobs/hips/biceps were just a little bit bigger/smaller
or
If only I lived in that neighborhood over there…
Now imagine that these thoughts never came to mind. What would you do differently? Are there things you would try that you don’t have the courage to now? Are there groups you would join, jobs you would take, clothes you would wear if the “what if” and “if only” thoughts weren’t continually popping up?
In a world where we are bombarded with self-improvement tips and tricks, it can feel almost impossible to enjoy the space and the bodies we occupy RIGHT NOW. But none of us can improve all the time, and in fact a little self-acceptance might be the one improvement many of us most need.