Start the Week Off Right: Love and Self-Esteem

Hi. I'm not sure if I am posting this in an appropriate place, but I wanted it to be associated with this group because a big part of disordered eating can be rooted in lack of love for oneself. Many people suffering from E/D's who pursue recovery only want it for the sake of their friends and family members who suffer for their empathy. It's an admirable step to pursue recovery at all, but going about it for another person's benefit puts pressure on us. We become martyrs. We become resentful and unwilling. We forget ourselves in the process. We fail. The cycle starts all over again.

We need to know ourselves. We need to remember that we're all uniquely beautiful and worthwhile. We can no longer depend on the perceptions of others to reassure us. We must be our own pillars of strength. Because if we tell ourselves that we're worthless, then we will become worthless. If we feel like failures, we will keep on failing. We are powerful beings and all of us are able to change, if only we take control.

So I think we should all take a hard look at ourselves. Find every crevice of good and potential and focus on that. Forget strict calorie restriction or making a specific weight goal for just one minute. Forget your disorder. Forget everything that might've caused you pain in the past. Forget bills, responsibilities, obligations. And for that moment, imagine an ideal life for yourself. Your dreams and hopes. The person you wish to be.

That life, and that person, aren't just things of dreams. We can live that. If for some reason you feel like there's no point in helping yourself, just remember that. There are things within us beyond our immediate suffering, and we must work to bring them forward. When an individual loves him or herself enough, their love and happiness overflow into the world around them. I truly believe that just by caring about ourselves, we can make the world around us a little bit better.

Apologies for the slight air of pretension that might be perceived. I've been told that my optimism can rot teeth. But in for a penny, in for a pound. So here's a quote from Ghandhi that I feel is relevant to this topic:

"Be the change you wish to see in the world".

Everyone, have a wonderful week.