In my life, I was *always* aware of how my body looked different from everyone around me. I was called “thick” or “big boned” when I’m actually neither of those. I’m quite petite! But I developed young compared to my sisters and peers, and people didn’t know how to respond to those changes in a healthy way.
I’ve carried the pain of those comments well into adulthood. I spent my youth being self-conscious about my weight and size, even though I was very athletic and fit. When I was in college, I sought attention and body positivity from *outside* because I needed to hear that I was beautiful and lovable at any size before I could actually believe it.
Into adulthood, my attention and focus was always on losing weight, getting thinner, and looking more slender, even though my frame was not built that way.
It has taken me half a lifetime and an in-depth training in eating psychology for me to realize that I can’t hate myself into loving my body. I must love the body I’m in before I can ever transform it into the body I want.
My two sisters and I have been deeply impacted by our mother’s weight hate/body hate, and we’ve all internalized it differently. Now I have three daughters of my own, and they are young and impressionable. One of my greatest fears is for them to look back on their childhood and have memory of Mom counting calories or body shaming.
It’s imperative that I present them an example of all-encompassing Self-love, and show them, in word and deed, what that looks like.
So we eat healthy together. We exercise together, We talk about why it’s important to have fun with food and eat what we love without guilt or shame.
When the shame from my past creeps in and makes me feel like I am unworthy of love and friendship because I’m 10 pounds (or 50 pounds) too heavy, I remind myself of the beautiful gift I have been given to teach people how to love themselves in a completely different way.
I don’t think it’s an accident that I have three daughters. I believe I’m here to break the cycle of body hate that’s been inherited from generations past in my family line.
It’s an honor and a privilege to be on this path of enlightenment, to help others while I help myself. It’s my duty to put this knowledge out into the Universe so that people everywhere can begin learning that body love begins with Self love.
ABOUT RITA
I have over 25 years of experience as a healer and a teacher, and several degrees in behavioral sciences. These have given me a very deep and wide understanding of the psyche and human development.
I use this expertise to help my clients understand the root causes of their unwanted challenges. We work together to bring together awareness with difficulties such as unwanted eating behaviors, troubled relationships, and unprocessed hurts and traumas.
I also like to bring in the element of creativity because the Journey can be long and hard, and if you forget to have fun you’ll never want to make it to the finish line.
If you’re interested in liberating yourself from emotional and physical pain, connect with me and let’s see if we are a good fit.
You can reach me at www. SublimationCoaching.com