Here is a novel idea – What if we measured our weight by laughter and contentment instead of pounds and kilos?
If we stopped obsessing about how much we weigh and lived more by our worth as a person. If the saying – you are worth your weight in gold became a marker of our potential to live to. Wouldn’t our world be a better place and wouldn’t we each live a brighter existence?
In a morning conversation about how we did not value our bodies when we were younger, I was thinking how can we instill value to our youth, where they grow up loving and appreciating their bodies for what they do and feel, over how they look. How can we gift this to our sons and daughters, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren?
Obviously, having less emphasis on looks, size, weight, shape would be a great start. I made a passing comment that if we had dedicated the same amount of time that we spent obsessing on how our bodies looked, to something of deeper importance, we would alleviate a lot of suffering. Losing weight, getting fit, and loving your body is valuable, but incessantly hating your body is a sad waste of time and energy, that surely could be put to better use.
Imagine a life that had no measure for bodyweight? What if the focus was on worth and value as a human being instead? What if we had a simple measure of goodness or humanity, would people then strive as hard to be kind and compassionate as they do to be skinny?
I have worked in the fitness industry since 1998 and the “weight loss” industry is massive. Australia, where I live, and many other parts of the world are facing an obesity epidemic. Every magazine you open, every television show you watch, makes some reference to looks and loss. Can you imagine if the same attention and the same amount of money was dedicated to the “negativity” loss industry? If as many resources were available to help us lose the destructive thoughts, negative feelings, and self sabotage tendencies? I am all for an industry focused on loss, but rather than pounds and kilos, let’s lose negative self-talk and focus on loving and accepting ourselves more.
I dream of a world that has a quantitive measure of how good you are over what size you are. Where people describe one another by their talents and achievements rather than their looks. Recognizing people by their value weight, a measure of how they occupy their physicality.
Now, this may sound funny coming from a PT, who spends their days encouraging people tow work out, who preaches about the importance of eating well, losing weight and make the strongest, healthiest and happiest version of themselves. I definitely see the need as a nation and as a globe to pay more attention to what goes in our mouths for the good of all humanity. Better food choices, seasonal produce, whole and healing foods and quality energy transactions, is not only good for ourselves, but better for the environment.
But I am just as passionate about what comes out of our mouths. It would be like heaven on earth for me, if we were also more conscious of the words and energy that came out in our words, not just to others but more importantly our thoughts to ourselves.
Rather than calories in versus calories out, your "worth weight” should be measured in kindness, generosity, and charitable acts. Be kind to yourself and love your body!
By Amy Booth
Amy is a yoga and pilates teacher and personal trainer in Brisbane, Australia, where she runs a cute riverside studio and a personal training business. In addition each year she runs yoga and hiking retreats.
To find out more: Website: www.ambertreeyoga.com.au Instagram: @ambertreeyogaandretreats Facebook: Amber Tree Yoga and Retreats
Start loving your body now, with Body Positive Yoga!