Body Liberation Requires Self-Compassion

“With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and support we’d give to a good friend.”  ~Dr. Kristin Neff

Self-compassion can be a powerful tool for liberation.  According to Dr. Kristin Neff, who is a leading expert on the topic, “Self-compassion is a more effective motivator than harsh self-criticism.”  Not only can it help us to rise above the diet culture requirement of dissatisfaction with our bodies, but it can motivate us to be kinder to both ourselves and others.  Dr. Neff explains: 

“The more compassion that flows inward, the more resources we have available to be there for others. Research shows that self-compassionate people are more giving and supportive to others in relationships.”

Self-compassion is meeting ourselves where we are and appreciating what we can and cannot do in this moment.  Aaron Flores, a Registered Dietitian and author of “The Unscripted Journey” Substack, writes about “The Gift of C-Level Work”, following our own path, rather than working to fulfill someone else’s expectations.  He explains, 

“I’m not talking about doing things poorly. I’m talking about recognizing that not everything in life requires an A. That it’s ok to just get a C and be happy with that. . . .It’s recognizing that sometimes the thing you can do is better than the thing you planned to do.”

Body Liberation Requires Nourishment and Pleasure

These topics have been covered in multiple articles on this website.  Unconditional permission to nourish ourselves and to participate in activities that bring us pleasure help to build resiliency and can improve both mental and physical health. They are foundational elements of body liberation that fuel us for the public health work of building a more equitable and just society.  These articles provide more detailed information and resources.

• The Role of Pleasure in Public Health
• The Dietitian’s Role in Body Liberation
• Talking About Food
• Body Liberation and Sexuality

Body Liberation Requires Community and Connection

The importance of community in body liberation work cannot be overstated. With the dominant paradigm in our culture so focused on body size and narrow definitions of health, it can be exhausting to feel like you are always pushing alone upstream against the current.  Finding your body liberation community – even one other person to whom you can turn for encouragement, validation and safety – is critical to sustaining the work, both for each of us as individuals and for moving toward a more compassionate, weight-inclusive approach to public health.  And, body liberation spaces are some of the most joyful and fun we’ve experienced!  They add so much to feelings of pleasure and belonging. We recommend checking out the following communities:

• Center for Body Trust
• National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)
• Chub Hub PDX
• The Unscripted Journey – especially for men
• Nalgona Positivity Pride

In these times of multi-tasking and “maxxing,” screens and isolation, being fully present for another person, especially young people, can be a genuine gift. Even simple acknowledgments or some friendly “small talk” can help a person be seen. When the tasks seem so large and the individual things we can do so small, it is good to be reminded of the story of the young girl walking on a beach after a storm in which thousands of starfish had been washed onto the sand.  One by one, she tosses starfish back into the sea. An older man comes along and asks why she persists – with thousands of stranded starfish, she can hardly make a difference tossing them back one at a time.  She picks up one more starfish, tosses it into the water and replies, “It makes a difference for that one.”