Unboxing Appearances is the third blog post in my series, Unboxing Women. This series is a gentle invitation for women to break out of the labels that seek to define us, offering new expansiveness on our paths to self-growth and healing. My hope is that you’ll follow along and try out these practices, which will gently challenge you to level up and free yourself from the boxes that cage you.
Does The Way You Look Make You Feel Boxed In?
If you’ve ever felt judged for aging, gaining weight, or simply existing in your body, you are not imagining it. I don’t think there is a woman who has not faced this. Even men have their share of it as well.
Even though I know that because of my lifestyle choices, I am very fit, a good weight and healthy, I still struggle with this, too. I judge myself in this area harshly.
From a very young age, women have been conditioned to believe our value is intrinsically tied to how we look. And it feels like that value gap is narrower than ever since the invention of social media.
Your worth is not a number on a scale. Nor is it a dress size. It’s not how “youthful” you seem or what filter you have on a selfie.
Your body is the home that’s carried you through life. And it continues to carry you through joy, illness, grief, triumph and so much more.
Let’s celebrate and honor it for that.
Unboxing Appearances
- Unfollow five accounts on social media that make you feel “less than” and follow five that make you feel seen and inspired. (I’ve actually done this exercise and it was liberating. If you aren’t sure where to start, notice how your body feels when you see certain accounts or people. Feelgood vibes only!)
- Take a photo of yourself that feels like you (not for performance or approval), and write one word or more to describe how you feel in it.
Unboxing Appearances Journal Prompts
- How much energy have I spent trying to conform to what “beautiful” means to society and others? If you aren’t sure how to measure the energy you’ve spent, consider how many hours a week, day, month, or year you have used on this.
- When do I feel most at home in my body?
Self-Care Practices After Journaling
Journaling can bring up sensations and emotions, often long-buried. It’s important to give yourself a little space to process, particularly if the practice stirred up some big, difficult feelings.
After journaling, build in time for something that truly soothes you, such as:
- Guided relaxation in a dark, quiet place
- Silent walk in nature (leave your ear buds at home)
- Yoga: any type
- Singing/vocalizing
- Cooking a meal
- Being with an animal
Next Time: Unboxing Health
When my next post is live, you will get to know the messages your body is sending you, and how to prioritize these over the relentless noise of those pushing wellness messages that may not serve you.
Live 3-Month Group Coaching Program
If you’re interested in going deep with a healthy transformation, my flagship online coaching program Take Back Your Health is open to new participants.
