Eckhart Tolle says a dog doesn't have body image issues because a dog doesn't have an image of itself. My first reaction was basically: okay, but we're not dogs.
We know what we look like. Other people see us. Our bodies exist in a world that assigns meaning to appearance. We can't just opt out of all of that.
But there is something useful in what he's saying. How much of our body image distress is intensified by the amount of attention we give our image?
In this episode I talk about mirrors, photos, technology, aging, body checking.
There is a difference between avoidance and choosing not to always look at yourself, and why moving your attention away from your body can actually feel unsafe.
I also share how I use non-attention when I get pulled into that tunnel myself, and a simple practice for getting better at moving attention between threat and the rest of your life.
MORE FROM STEFANIE MICHELE
Stefanie Michele is a certified coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who helps people understand the deeper psychological, emotional, and nervous-system patterns shaping their relationships with food, body image, and themselves.
Instagram : @iamstefaniemichele
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