This statement is very, very true. But I have battled with this truth for the majority of my life.
This statement means that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the number on the scales is; it should not determine the kind of day you are going to have, nor should it determine the kind of life you are going to have.
My life is amazing. I have so many wonderful things; great people, incredible opportunities and everything I could possibly need or want. Why is it then, that when I see my reflection in the mirror, or in the store window, this fact can become null or void when I don’t like what I see. Does how you look, determine what kind of life you are going to have? Does it take away all the good stuff? The things that make life worth living include our relationships – with our partner, friends, family and colleagues; our personal growth and how we make meaning out of our existence – plus the good times and memories we share with the ones we love.
All of the above-mentioned have nothing to do with a number on the scales, or what our refection may be and/or our interpretation of it. To think that this isn’t true is ludicrous.
Does the way we look determine how people should treat us? No. It shouldn’t. And if it does, there is something very wrong with that. People come in all sorts of shapes and sizes… does this shape and/or size determine their worth? Does their shape and/or size determine whether we like or dislike them? Absolutely not. I know for a fact that I love the people in my life because of their sense of integrity, their sense of humour, their kindness… not their weight, shape or size. It is these things, kindness, humour, loyalty, integrity… that I remember in a person and that I treasure in a person.
When I am having a particularly bad body image day, I need desperately to remind myself of these facts. Another quote that I love… “How I look is a drop in the ocean of who I am”. I am strong, I am fierce, I am kind and loyal. I am passionate about music, writing and sharing my story to help others. I am a good partner, a good friend, a good daughter and a good sister. None of this has anything to do with my reflection, nor should it.
My life is BIGGER than my reflection. My life is way more important than a number on the scales. I want to be Kate, at her best, and this has nothing to do with whether I am a size 6, a size 10 or even a size 14. This has to do with me aligning with my personal values, behaving, speaking and making decisions in a way that make sense to me, in a way that reflects who I want to be as a person and how I show up, every day.
I think as a society, we place far too much importance on appearances. What we need to place importance on, is how happy and healthy we are, and again, how happy or healthy we are should not have anything to do with our reflection in the mirror. Period.
Kate xx
Kate's Niche 