Hello Lovely,
I came across this meme on Pinterest...
...it made me laugh and got me thinking about how differently I see my body now compared with a few years ago.
In 2010, I wanted some professional photos for my Image Consultancy website. The photo I'd been using had been taken by my friend in her garden - she'd stood on a stool and I crouched on a white sheet - we were creative if nothing else!!
So I did a 'swapsy' with a photographer: she had a wardrobe consultation in exchange for a photoshoot.
I'd gone to so much trouble to select the right outfits, accessories and props. I had a great day and was eager to get the photos back.
But when I saw them I cried.
I *thought* I looked fat, spotty and one eye seemed to droop in every photo - how had I never noticed that before!?? I felt disgusting.
So what did I do? I scrapped the professional shots and continued using the makeshift one my friend had taken on her husband's camera.
A couple of years later, I came across the images and I couldn't believe what I saw. I didn't hate the photos of myself, I loved them.
HOW HAD I EVER THOUGHT I WAS FAT? WHO CARED THAT ONE EYE WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE OTHER?? Why had I been such a b!tch to myself?
I have lots of photos like that. When I look at them now it's like seeing them for the first time: through a different pair of eyes. Softer and kinder eyes.
These were some of the photos that I cried over. I no longer zone in on my eyelids or the fact my skin isn't perfect. I now see a happy, smily (and slim!!) woman looking back. Oh how I wish that I had seen all that at the time. I'm a stone heavier now I can't even get those jeans over my hips any more, let alone do them up, and I probably never will (and I'm perfectly content with that) but what a waste of a figure that I didn't appreciate!!
I would love to go back in time and give myself a (loving) shake. I want to tell the me from 6/10/15 years ago that I wasn't fat or ugly. I will never look that young again - what a waste of my twenties. So now I no longer allow myself to be critical of photos. I no longer allow myself to nitpick. I look for the parts I love instead of the parts I hate.
Have you ever seen a photo of yourself from a few years back and realised you really weren't as fat or unattractive as you thought at the time?
Well I have some cold, hard truth for you. In 10 years time, you're going to look back at a photo from TODAY and wish that you'd seen your beauty. So why wait? Why put yourself through that torment and then regret it? Instead of waiting for ten years time, why not see what you'll see then TODAY?!
You're beautiful, right here and right now. Look for that beauty.
Much love,
Emma xx
P.S. Would you love some help seeing yourself through more loving eyes? My Love Your Body course takes you step-by-step through the mindset work I teach my clients.