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In my research over the last few
months on the issue of Body Image – I
have
become increasingly aware of firstly how big this issue is, and
how
we align
that with eternal truth.
What
is Body Image
To
put it simply put - this is a person’s own perception of their
body. It can be positive, neutral, negative or even
dysfunctional.
The
Dove Esteem campaign states that 1% of women in Australia are
happy with their body image.
Psychology Today
[1] found that 56% of the women and about 40%
of the men who responded to their survey in 1997 were
dissatisfied with their overall appearance. This is really
alarming
In many cases, a person’s body image
can even be incorrect or skewed. For example a persons own
perception or internal picture of themselves may not be
accurate. It can often be warped by experiences of life and
self-esteem issues. In my own experience of suffering with
Anorexia Nervosa – I was starving to death, and yet my own
perception of my body was ugly, fat, and distorted.
A
person can be thought beautiful by other people around them, and
still have a destructive negative body image. Or in the
reverse, someone who has a great positive body image, may not
necessarily be thought of as attractive by other people.
It’s not about what others think of
us, that really defines body image, it’s what we think of
ourselves. There can be contributing factors about comments
that people will make about us, however it comes down to our
internal image of ourselves and how positive or negative we feel
about that.
Effects
of Body Image
A
negative body image can lead to into eating disorders, and
depression, emotional distress including life disruption. As
well as that it takes a great toll on a person to be constantly
carrying that kind of pressure around on the inside of them that
they when they not happy with who they are.
A positive body image on the other
hand, releases us as people to be confident in who we were
created to be. It frees us up internally from the stress of
struggling with our own self-perception.
This is a brief look at Body Image, and is
not intended to be all inclusive – just to get us thinking about
real issues in the world, and what we can do to play our part.
According to these statistics – every one of us would know of at
least one person who suffers with a negative body image, or
maybe it’s us.
What is God’s ideal Body Image for us
Very
simply, God wants us to be healthy and well, so we can be able
to help others. When we are suffering and broken we are not yet
in a position to help others. God wants us healed and whole and
reaching out to others in need.
One
of the most powerful things to understand, that regardless of
what we think about ourselves – the God of all the Heavens, sent
His only beloved son to become a sacrifice for us, that we may
find life forever as one of His own dearly beloved children.
This is HOW MUCH HE LOVES US.
Made in God’s image
It’s
a powerful concept to understand that God made us in His image,
we are not abstract, we are not a mistake – but He honoured us
by allowing us to be made like him.
Genesis 1:27 (New International Version)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them.
Don’t
be anxious
We
are encouraged not to be anxious about the issues of life but to
let God be involved in our concerns.
Philippians 4:6 (The Message)
6-7Don't
fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and
praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your
concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness,
everything coming together for good, will come and settle you
down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at
the centre of your life.
Think
on the right things
We are encouraged to think on the right things – as what we
dwell on and think on is the target of our focus, it can either
set us off course, or in the right course. As we are told the
tongue is like the rudder of our life, I would also say that
what we allow ourselves to think on constantly is like the
rudder than can steer our lives.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things,
which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Take the thoughts captive
When we are overwhelmed with these issues – have
a plan not to just let your mind run away with your thoughts -
decide today to take the thoughts captive, have a strategy of
how you are going to stand and fight against these
soul-destroying thoughts. Try and understand that these
thoughts are not your friend, they are actually your enemy and
when you allow them to run free – you are giving room to this
problem to grow. Whatever you feed will grow, whatever you
starve will die.
2 Corinthians
10:4-5 (New International Version)
4The
weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the
contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5We demolish arguments and every
pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and
we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Have an honest heart
Honesty is one of the best ways I know of heading
back in the right direction. Even in the small, hidden areas in
our lives, it’s important to be transparent. The heart is
incredibly tricky, we can tell ourselves things that we don’t
even believe. This verse is awesome – as even King David knew
1000’s of years ago – only you truly know my heart God – search
me as I want to walk in your truth.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me
in the way everlasting.
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