Body Belonging

Because these two words are at the root of my business philosophy, I thought I'd start here. What does ‘Body Belonging’ mean? and how is it helpful in healing our relationship with food and body? 

I’m going to break this down and share firstly what the definition of belonging is, and in no better words than ‘Brene` Brown’ herself, this is how she defines belonging… 

True belonging is the practice of believing and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world, and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone. True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are, but be who you are.

Ultimately, I call this “feeling at home in yourself” . It's being part of something bigger but also having the courage to stand alone. 

So, how does this relate to our bodies?

Believe it or not, ‘Body Belonging’ was at the core of my eating disorder, food & body struggles. I was someone who was constantly trying to ‘fit in’ to what was deemed acceptable, validating and successful in our world. Even if it was at the expense of my body and health, which led me down a road of constantly trying to be someone I was not, and in a body that was not natural nor easy for me to attain.

The more I was trying to change my body to fit into a socially '‘accepted body type”, the more I was taken away from my authentic body , sense of belonging and body acceptance.

Toko Pa Turner sums it up nicely “The difference between fitting in and belonging is that fitting in, by its very definition, is to parcel up our wholeness in exchange for acceptance. “ - Toko Pa Turner

So the true quest became… How can I “feel at home” in my body again?

It’s about learning to accept our body right here and now and embracing our authentic shape and body in this season of our life. (I know this is harder said than done, this is why i'm here!). Accepting our body means not resisting or shaming the body we are in now.

 It doesn't require us to change our body. We find belonging in our bodies by building a compassionate, loyal, and appreciative relationship with it.

 As we come home to our bodies we can begin to discover what she truly (body) needs, what she wants and the truth within that brings her ease and nourishment.