The Body Image Convos The Patriarchy Doesn’t Want Us to Have with Megan Born
Sep 26, 2023
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Guest Megan discusses her personal body image journey, the impact of language we use around children, embracing scars and body positivity, body image struggles and TikTok trends, changing perceptions of body image and fashion influencers, shutting down negative self-talk and intrusive thoughts, music obsession and creating a calm environment, productivity and finding shortcuts, and planning Halloween costumes.
Separating exercise from body control thoughts can help cultivate a healthier mindset towards movement.
Making small changes in content consumption and social circle can contribute to building a healthier relationship with your body.
Actively reshaping content consumption and challenging societal beauty standards can contribute to healing and creating a healthier body image.
Healing body image involves embracing imperfections, making progress, and setting the intention to love and accept your body as it is.
Deep dives
Separating exercise from body control
One method I adopted after having my second child was to not work out when the motivation was to control my body. I made a commitment to myself to not exercise if even a sliver of my intention was to lose weight or fit into certain clothes. By consciously separating exercise from body control, I challenged the neural pathways in my brain that linked the two. I allowed myself to work out when the motivation was purely to feel good and improve my mental health. This process took time, but gradually the percentage of workouts driven by body control thoughts decreased, resulting in a healthier mindset towards movement.
Baby steps in healing body image
Healing body image and disordered eating doesn't happen overnight. It's important to take baby steps and focus on a few changes at a time. For example, changing the types of influencers or content you follow on social media can make a big difference. Surrounding yourself with diverse body types and positive influences can help reshape your mindset. Additionally, making small commitments like refraining from negative body talk with certain friends can also contribute to building a healthier relationship with your body.
Recognizing societal influence
Acknowledging society's role in shaping our body image is crucial. The constant exposure to media and societal expectations makes it challenging to escape negative body thoughts. Rather than feeling guilty or ashamed for being influenced, it's important to notice and be aware of those influences. By actively reshaping your content consumption and challenging societal beauty standards, you can take small steps towards healing and creating a healthier body image.
Embracing imperfections and progress
Healing body image is not about achieving perfection or completely letting go of control. It's a journey that involves embracing imperfections, making progress, and being kind to ourselves along the way. Each small step, even if it's not perfect, contributes to the overall process. It's about being aware of your thoughts, separating them from societal influences, and setting the intention to love and accept your body as it is.
Strategies for Reducing Stress and Simplifying Tasks
The podcast episode discusses the importance of finding ways to reduce stress and simplify tasks in order to improve overall well-being. The host and guest share personal experiences and insights on various strategies, such as finding shortcuts, making tasks easier, and embracing imperfection. They emphasize the need to explore different approaches to reduce stress and streamline daily routines, including laundry, exercise, and responding to text messages. By adopting these practices, they aim to create a more relaxed and manageable lifestyle.
The Impact of Perfectionism and the Importance of Acceptance
The conversation delves into the negative effects of perfectionism and the importance of accepting oneself. The speakers discuss the pressure to achieve unrealistic standards imposed by society, beauty standards, and personal insecurities. They highlight the significance of shifting the focus towards self-acceptance, embracing imperfections, and celebrating personal achievements. The speakers also share their experiences with body image and how they strive to raise their children without perpetuating harmful beauty ideals.
Finding Ways to Manage Migraines and Lower Stress
The episode touches on the topic of managing migraines and reducing stress. The speakers share their personal journeys in dealing with migraines and discuss the challenges of finding effective strategies. They explore methods of minimizing stress, such as identifying triggers, implementing habits to reduce cortisol levels, and seeking ways to simplify daily tasks. The focus is on finding individualized approaches that work for each person's unique circumstances and neurodivergent tendencies.
Megan, big sister of the pod, is back to discuss her own personal body image journey, especially how a small trick - skipping the work out anytime there was a negative or punishing thought associated with the desire to work out - changed her relationship with exercise and her body. She also discusses how being a mom of two has motivated her to take a closer look at her eating disordered behaviors and the impact of language we use around children.
