instead pause. I pause to recognize the discomfort, and more importantly, what sort of feelings are underneath it. “It is okay to move slowly today,” I will repeat to myself, “Take your time.” I hear my best friend’s words echo throughout my now quieting mind, “you are the kind of person that takes care of yourself even when you do not want to.” I have found that by allowing myself to feel the fear, discomfort, and anger that arise in me or toward my body, it makes it far easier to then let myself move on. When I feel the body dysmorphia monsters move past, or at least shut up and sit down for a minute, I am then able to surround myself with the beautiful things that help me move past neutral and into a positive mindset. Soft meditation, patchouli candles, green tea, and if I’m lucky, even some avocado toast. These are the things that I do and set up to remind myself that I am okay, that I am worth loving, and that I can make today a good day, even when it begins to feel endlessly uphill.
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