You're beautiful!!

As I was driving in my car recently, a song came on that I'd not heard in a while. The song was "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera and well if you've not heard it go check it out!!! The chorus, in particular, spoke to me, saying:

I am beautiful

No matter what they say

Words can't bring me down

I am beautiful

In every single way

When struggling with an eating disorder, self-doubt was always present and I believed the lies that my eating disorder told me. I felt anything but beautiful and the reflection in the mirror was something I hated to see because of how ugly I thought I was.

The gift of recovery is that I can now sing Christina's song and believe in it. The words that Ed told me were lies and I am learning to embrace the image before me and accept the beauty that makes me who I am.

Now don't get me wrong, it's a process and, if I'm being honest, there are still days where that negative voice tries to sneak in. AND, I refuse to allow it to take over, remembering that Ed's "words can't bring me down"!

So today I DARE you to look in the mirror and sing along to Christina's song, truly embracing the words and believing them. And if that feels too overwhelming, begin by reminding yourself why your body is so amazing because of what it can do.

You truly are beautiful. Believe it, own it, and celebrate in the incredible person YOU are!