“Loving yourself is the greatest revolution.”

The internet is flooded with the phrases #bodypositive and #bodyposi but what does it truly mean to be “body positive?” According to Wikipedia, Body positivity is a social movement rooted in the belief that all human beings should have a positive body image, while challenging the ways in which society presents and views the physical body.

Having a positive body image is definitely more challenging than most people would like to admit. I briefly mentioned my struggles with anorexia and bulimia in a couple of blog posts and I was recently involved in a related discussion on Twitter, so I thought I’d touch base on the topic today. Although it is a lifelong struggle, I am really good at noticing the subtle thought patterns that lead me down the dark path towards personal body hatred (like seeing a photo of my belly rolls;)

With over a decade of blogging under my writer’s belt, I have received a lot of comments related to my body and my overall appearance. If I had to choose one specific comment focus that I have received the most over the years, I would have to say it is related to body confidence. Considering my history, it’s inspiring to take note of how far I’ve come. As a child I was bullied. The harsh words of my peers created an unfortunate reaction in my psyche. Although I was under weight, I felt like an ugly, flat chested, homely girl. I felt like a waste of skin (ps: let’s skip past this and focus on the positive pretty please).

When I hit high school, I guess I sort of “came into myself”. My home phone was flooded with teenage boys calling to ask me out. It felt like some sort of cruel joke. It wasn’t. Something about me seemed to spark sexual interest in the men around me. People say I have “bedroom eyes”. People comment on my style of dress, which tends to be flowy, comfortable, and often times somewhat revealing. I honestly don’t know what it is about me that attracts sexual attention, but it’s been an aspect of my life that’s been present since I turned 14.

I thought that, when I grew older (I am turning 45 in August) it would disappear. I thought men would lose interest in me. That does not seem to be the case. On the flip side, women have a tendency to feel threatened by me. The few female friends I have are deeply empowered women who are confident in themselves as women and feel comfortable in their own skin.

This brings me to a quote I absolutely adore:

“Feeling beautiful has nothing to do with what you look like.” – Emma Watson

Clearly, if you happen to have a physical appearance that matches what the majority of society identifies as “beautiful”, it’s possible that it’s easier to have confidence. However, the most beautiful thing you can wear, even when you are butt ass naked, is confidence. Maintaining a healthy level of body positivity and true confidence that radiates from deep in your psyche is not always easy. For me, getting naked and unleashing my sensuality is the key to my confidence.

Your path may be totally different but I gently encourage you to find the key to unleashing your personal body confidence. You only have one body, might as well at least attempt to love it!

I hope your day is filled with moments of pure, unadulterated bliss.

From my heart to yours, Joy