"Some days I love my body, some days I hate my body, but every day I respect my body."

There are many different approaches to accepting our bodies. You might have heard of the "body positivity" or "body love" movements, which encourage you to celebrate and love your body.

While a negative self-image is draining, constantly loving your body can also feel overwhelming.

What Is Body Neutrality?

Though controversial to some, body neutrality involves adopting an emotionally and physically neutral stance toward your body while striving for wellness. This means neither hating your body for its perceived flaws nor pressuring yourself to love it unconditionally. Instead, it encourages being at peace with your body and nurturing it through exercise, deep rest, and whole-food nutrition.

Practicing body neutrality while pursuing whole-body wellness means giving less importance to natural changes like puberty, aging, pregnancy, or menopause and instead appreciating your body as the precious home of your mind and spirit.

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Listen up, all of you beautiful humans! No matter your shape, size, color, gender, physical ability, or capability, shifting your focus allows you to accept your body just as it is—one part of your whole self.

Remember to give yourself grace when the ego creeps into your thoughts. When it does, gently acknowledge it, then set it aside. Remind yourself that you are unique and honor your inner beauty, as this is the magic that truly shines through in your physical appearance.

Three steps to start embracing YOU!

• Focus on Functionality: Concentrate on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Celebrate your body's capabilities and the activities it allows you to perform, such as walking or dancing.

• Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, especially when you feel critical about your body. Do your best to replace negative thoughts with neutral or positive ones.

• Engage in Mindful Movement: Participate in physical activities that you enjoy and that make you feel good. Prioritize movements that make you feel vital, energized, and connected to your body rather than those solely aimed at changing your appearance.

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I want to end by emphasizing the importance of self-love and acceptance. Learning to be okay with all the pieces of YOU can be challenging, but your light will shine with practice.

Top Pick for JUNE!

I Am More Than My Body

by Bethany C. Meyers