My body image has impacted my life in more ways than I realize. Sitting here thinking of all the times I didn’t fully engage in my life due to body image is sobering.
– I’m not successful unless my body reflects that of a successful person.
– I cannot get a Jeep until I have the body type that should be driving a Jeep.
– A short haircut doesn’t match my body shape.
– Wearing my hair long just exacerbates how big I am.
– I can’t fully enjoy myself at an event because of my size.
– I experience anxiety whenever I have to get ready to go anywhere.
It’s silly. And it’s not.
My personality, in some ways, has changed because I try to hide in the background. I don’t like to call attention to myself. I find myself not eating sometimes, because a body of this size shouldn’t be eating.
Again, I know the right answer: Bodies need fuel – no matter what size they are. But these are the invasive thoughts and I’m not even certain they are active thoughts. They are ingrained in my life at this point. It’s part of the routine. It’s my truth.
I have gained a whole bunch of hang-ups and have put my energy going to all the wrong places.
I have lost precious time and memories because I feel like I don’t deserve enjoyment.
**This is part of a series that uses “beautiful you – a daily guide to Radical Self-Acceptance” by Rosie Molinary as a model for prompts to look inward. Here’s why.**
LEA WEST 
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