Looking For Answers? They're Closer Than You Think...

The low-point in my life, my struggle with multiple miscarriages, brought a pivotal shift in my thinking about my body. During my darkest moments, I was filled with anger, self-loathing and shame about my body. I looked to Doctor after Doctor to fix my body but to no avail. I felt like a victim and felt powerless to change my circumstances. I was trapped in a body that felt like my enemy. It was awful!

My turning point came when upon the advice of my brother, a family practice physician, I began to search for the answers inside myself rather than from outside sources. I began to work on forgiving myself and embracing all that I had instead of focusing on what I did not yet have. I began to work with my body instead of against it. It sounds simple but it took a fundamental shift in my mindset to begin to see myself and my body in this new, more compassionate way. As I gradually discarded my old ways of thinking, I replaced my old negative messages with new, more empowering messages.

I highly recommend, "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" by Dr. Christiane Northrup. It's a huge book but a tremendous resource for all women who are looking to change the way they view their bodies. It woke me up to the miracle that our bodies really are and became the foundation for the way I live and what I teach others.

I recently had the honor of working with Dr. Kirk Prine and Donny Lobree, Body Story Experts. You can check out their amazing work at www.themissingthread.com. As much progress I've made over the years, they helped me uncover and release another layer of shame, guilt and anger from my past that I had been carrying around for years. It reminded me that our healing and growth is a never-ending process. There are always more layers to uncover and we need to be kind and compassionate with ourselves on this journey. It can be terrifying to take action to confront our limiting beliefs and create change but what awaits us on the other side is always better.

Positive Message for the week:
I love and appreciate my body.

When you have the urge to criticize your body this week, resist your natural tendency to be critical about your supposed flaws. Replace any negative messages you normally tell yourself with the above positive message. It may feel weird or untrue at first, but try to feel as much gratitude and love for yourself and your body as you can in this moment. Love yourself and your body in this moment, just as it is.