I recently went to a conference on eating disorders and came away with a new energy and passion to talk about real beauty. The beauty that is unique to each person and comes from within, not just the beauty that media promotes.
Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign has produced some powerful videos to help us all be mindful of our “True Colors”. Please take a moment to look at 2 of my favorites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm1uNgHw6Xo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkaPs8CIipw
When talking about food, notice if you designate foods as “good” or “bad”. Do you say “you’ve been bad” if you eat something sweet?
When talking about yourself, do you ever say “I feel fat”? Even though fat is not a feeling.
Our kids are watching and listening.
When talking about food, I like to think “food is fuel”. Like with a car, if I’m going on a long trip, I’m going to need a lot of fuel (think basketball games, soccer, learning all day in school). If I’m going on a short trip (sitting around playing video games), I don’t need as much fuel.
Talk with kids about “healthy serving sizes” and “1 serving foods” (pizza, ice cream) and “2 serving foods” (fruits and vegetables).
One of the most powerful interventions for eating disorders is a confident self-image. Ask your child, “What do your friends like about you?”. If you hear, for example, “I’m a good drawer, good friend, fun to be with, fair, a fast runner”, things that are intrinsic or inside a person, you have a child with budding self-confidence.
If on the other hand, you hear, “I don’t know” or “they like my clothes, my video games/toys, that I’m pretty”, things that are extrinsic or on the outside, start working on building up the inside.
Real beauty is more than skin deep. Pass it on.
Post a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Beverly Dolenz Walsh
Life and Family Coach
Dr.Bev@sbcglobal.net
Imagine Your Life...Then Live It!
Bev, you are right. The Dove ads are very powerful. It is about time we had something like this! As for the food dilemna, well, for me anyway, this is a daily struggle. I want my daughter to be healthy, but she refuses to eat most anything at all. At the age of 3, it becomes a struggle between the not so healthy, and the nothing at all. I know she will outgrow some of this as a toddler, but I don't want to be too controlling either. All I want to do is to provide her with sound choices without too many restrictions, yet not give her too many privileges either. Good grief - the guilt! Plus, if I'm eating it...It is the age old problem: I want for you my Princess, all of the beautiful and wonderful things that I didn't have or chose not to have. This Parenting thing, so awesome, so hard! KB
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