Come Healing Of The Body, Come Healing Of The Mind

As spring slowly descends here in the Southern Hemisphere, the days get a little longer, the nights a little warmer, we all start to unwrap ourselves from our warm warm clothes and our thoughts turn to shedding a few unwanted pounds. It seems like a natural progression that we all gain a little extra weight over winter.

Over the past few years I have witnessed some personal battles with weight and with body image and I have seen some truly remarkable transformations too. I have seen people not only shed pounds but also shed their own negative body images that seemed to have plagued them for years.

Now let me stop right here and stress that in no way am I implying for even a second that thin people are happy people! What I am saying is that people who have a good image of their own body, regardless of the size or shape, are certainly happier within themselves.

This weekend I was listening to a little music when I heard “Come Healing” by Leonard Cohen and some of the lyrics really stuck with me.

Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind

Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb

Come healing of the reason
Come healing of the heart

So we can blame magazines, super models, our parents, the movies or just about anyone for our own low self esteem and belief or we can say “The buck stops here” and choose to have the body we want, not the one anyone else thinks we should have, not the one you saw in a magazine or a movie, just the one you want and will love.

In some cases our own poor body image is a result of terrible things that have been said to us over the years by lovers, friends, family or others. These words have penetrated deep within us and sit there tearing at the fiber of our being. These people will not be back to heal you, that has been left to you alone.

As I embark on my own personal umpteenth 12 week challenge in search of the body I want, I know I will crave sugar, comfort food and a giant pizza, I know I will slip occasionally but the 12 weeks (or perhaps much longer) will be so worth it.

When you choose or decide the time is right, you too will set off down a long and difficult road, you too will struggle and falter and get up again and try all over. Just remember there are so many people supporting you, here to help you and encouraging you. Speak to the people who are winning their own personal battles (Note I did not say “have won”) they too can offer you advice or guidance.

Me, well I am off to the gym now, with Leonard Cohen as my personal trainer blaring through my head phones.