Is Being Thin Really That Important?

Our society values thinness very highly. We see it in the media, major industries, and in our culture. Thus, we internalize the need to be thin and work towards achieving that throughout our lives. But how far will you sacrifice your happiness to be thin? We tend to forget that we are more than how we think our body looks because of these false stereotypes. In this episode, I discuss the core of the belief systems that drive binge eating and chronic dieting issues and debunk the concept that thinness brings happiness. Make sure to tune in to the full episode to keep your perspective in check about wanting to be thin. My discussion will help you take the first step in taking back your power to create balance in your mind. I am now offering a 10-week virtual class Give yourself a gift by enrolling in this transformative 10-week class. It will include pre-recorded videos, audio recordings, handouts, and membership in a Facebook community. It is packed with content and comes with a money back guarantee! You can’t take this class and not begin to understand the roots of your eating habits that you might be frustrated with. If you would prefer more individualized help, I am also available for this.  To sign up for the class or to get private help, you can send me an email at [email protected] or visit my website. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Recognize the importance of our early childhood experiences on our present day value system. Where and when does the “importance” of being thin start? Discover how you can shift your focus from wanting to be thin to seeking happiness. Consider the connection between our spiritual being and our physical body. Episode Highlights The “Importance” of Being Thin Society values thinness very highly. It’s in our standards of beauty, our culture, and our media. However, we have taken it out of balance to the point that we're hanging our life purpose to this one thread of thought. This thread can destroy the bigger picture of having a wonderful life and tapping into our gifts and real purpose. Where It Starts Wanting to be thin starts with the message we get as young children. Well-meaning parents present messages to children about body weight and food, either subtly or blatantly. They feel that they are fixing a problem, rooting from their personal fears, by doing this. Often parents see their children as extensions of themselves. If you encounter these messages daily, you start to internalize the idea that there's something wrong with you if you don't have a particular body. Consider whether you might have misinterpreted these messages relating to being thin. Consider the idea that these conclusions might have been just confused thoughts with no basis in real truth.  You’re innocent. There was never anything wrong with you.  Remember, you don’t need fixing if you are not thin; you are still enough. Change Your Focus Taking back your power and changing your focus does not mean you should stop caring about how you look. It also does not mean that you should ignore those times when your eating habits and in disarray. Taking back your power involves examining your belief system and recognizing that your attachment to being thin might have gotten out of hand. Part of freedom from body anxiety lies in the ability to find balance. Joni Edelman’s Story There is no truth in the stereotype that being thin equates to being happy. This is what Joni Edelman shared in her article, How Do I Learn To Love My Body After Losing Weight? Her focus on thinness had her doing things she didn’t like — from eating food she didn’t enjoy to obsessing over every detail of her body. Betsy talks about her article in the podcast. Joni reminds us that our happiness or sadness doesn't depend on how thin or fat our body is. Sometimes letting go of some things related to your weight can open doors to what matters regarding your happiness. The world wants you to be thin and preys on your insecurities. Thin doesn’t mean happy. Fat doesn’t equate to unhappiness. If you want to really blow people’s minds, be fat, healthy, and happy. Creating Balance in Your Mindset There’s nothing wrong with losing weight. If you feel uncomfortable in your body, if you have medical issues, or if your body aches, it’s okay to do things like exercise and change your diet. But you also have to hold the truth that you don’t need to be thin to be happy. If you hold tight to the belief that “I must be thin to be happy,” or “I must be thin to have value,” you will be out of balance in life. That belief will be a block for you. You Are So Much More than Just a Physical Body There is a powerful passage in the book A Course in Miracles that talks about our physical and spiritual being. A Course in Miracles is a course in changing from fear to love, in recognizing that our minds are run by our powerful ego. Your ego, in its arrogance, has convinced you that your body is you. But your body is a ripple in an ocean. Often, we think that our body is all that we are, but it is not — who we truly are is the powerful spiritual being inside our physical bodies.  5 Powerful Quotes from this Episode “I am not a body; I am free.” “To set the record straight, can we please line up with the truth: if you are not thin, there is nothing wrong with you. If you are not thin, you are still enough. You don't need to be fixed, and it will have nothing to do with whether or not people would love you.” “Happiness does not require thinness; fatness does not presume sadness.” “10 pounds are insignificant when compared to my willingness to let some things go—to sit with my kids, to sleep. I'm happy. I'm fat, and I'm happy.” Byron Katie: “If I could have one prayer in life, it would be: Dear God, spare me from the approval, needing the approval of others. Amen.” Resources How Do I Learn To Love My Body After Losing Weight? By Joni Edelman A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman If you listened to the podcast and enjoyed it, please share and post a review! Have any questions or want to schedule an appointment? You can email me at [email protected] or visit my website. To making peace with eating, Betsy