“And I said to my body softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.’” — Nayyirah Waheed

Do you see your body as a sacred temple? How can you love your body more, recognize and honor how it has carried you through life? What would you do to show love to your body?

For generations, we’ve been told what to do, how to look, and what and when to eat. Unfortunately, it made us judge and compare ourselves with others. And we ended up criticizing our looks and speaking negatively about ourselves. No surprise here! The media bombard us with information every single day.

The question is… How can we return to ourselves when we feel distracted by outside noise?

We can be selective about what we feed our mind and body. We can choose to go inward, pay attention, connect, and listen to our body temples. 

To hear the body’s wisdom, we need to learn to live in harmony with it. We must first learn to love ourselves as we are. Learning to do so opens the portal to our inner heart to hear our body’s messages.

What action are you willing to take to accept, love, and honor your body?

Every day, we choose what we put into our sacred vessel, how we talk to it, and what we do with it. Choose wisely.

I CHOOSE to listen to, love, and accept my body every day.

My body taught me to pay attention, slow down, heal, and be more present. I schedule visits to a massage therapist and a chiropractor. I incorporate exercises into my daily routine: dancing, stretching, walking outdoors, and going to the gym. One of my favorite habits is hugging myself and saying empowering words.

I continue to show up for myself with kindness and compassion.

I encourage you to do the same!

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~ Jim Rohn

Let me share one of my favorite shower rituals that can be done before, during, or after a shower. 

• It will infuse your body with love and comfort, moisturize your skin, stimulate and relax your muscles, increase circulation, and calm your nerves. 
• Dedicate time just for you by accepting your body. Make this a self-love ritual. You can use this to connect with and acknowledge your sacred temple.
• Before showering, you can exfoliate your dry skin with a special brush, then nourish it with olive or coconut oil (the one you can eat). It’s always been a special treat for my body. I learned this detoxing self-care ritual from my teacher when I studied Ayurveda. (“Veda” knowledge and “Ayu” life, aka “science of life”).
• During showering, use soap or scrub, or after showering, use lotion. You can lovingly rub your body in circular motions, from FEET to head, telling each body part, “I love you.” 
• Start by massaging your feet and saying, “I love you, feet.” Then, spend time with each part of your body while moving toward your heart, saying, “I love you, toes; I love you, ankles, calves, thighs, hips, etc.” Dedicate extra time to rubbing the parts of your body you rarely appreciate, even if it’s hard emotionally. 
• Repeat the mantra “I love myself completely and unconditionally” as many times as you need to feel it. Be gentle with yourself and be patient while slowly accepting your body.

“I finally realized that being grateful to my body was key to giving more love to myself.” — Oprah Winfrey

Here are some reflective journaling questions for you to ask yourself:

• What part of my body feels unloved and judged? 
• What wisdom does my body want me to know? 
• What can I do to improve my relationship with my body?  

“Your body is your home, your vessel in life. It needs to be respected and loved.” – Iskra Lawrence

I want you to know this: 

Your body is a marvel. It’s capable of amazing things. Don’t waste your time or energy comparing yourself to anyone or shaming yourself for not looking a certain way. Instead, embrace, celebrate, and enjoy everything your body can do. It has carried you through life. Give love it deserves. Honor your body as a sacred temple.

“The greatest temple in the universe is your body; the greatest treasure it contains is your soul.” ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

What was your biggest takeaway? What did you need to hear today? What action are you willing to take to accept, love, and honor your body? Please comment below. I love reading your comments.