Girlhood x Body Image
Thoughts on reclaiming ownership of our thoughts around our bodies and the importance of strong girlfriendships
I’m fresh off one of the most fun wedding weekends of my life, reflecting on how incredibly grateful I feel to have such wonderful friendships - new and old. What was so lovely about the weekend was I got to spend time with a few of my dear close friends, but I also got to spend time with a few women who are friends with my friends. And the level of welcoming, kind, sincere energy that was felt on the receiving end of spending time with these women I’d either just met or only see once in a blue moon was truly special.
One thing about what I’d experienced over the weekend is that I recognized I was so present. In my past life, I’d have been so consumed by how my body looked that I wouldn’t have been able to connect with these women so deeply. I would have been so in my head that I wouldn’t have been able see the beauty in the conversations I had. I was truly in my body instead of being consumed by thoughts of how I, or others, thought she looked.
I think being around incredible women helps stop that loop for me. It’s so important to build your circle around women who lift you up and don’t allow you to question your body for one second. I’m so lucky to experience this within my friend groups. And I hope for us all to establish this level of support when it comes to who we spend our time with - because these people, the way they speak about others, the way they talk to themselves affects you, whether you’re aware of it or not.
I follow this account on Instagram called Making Waves. They posted a reel today that was all about the meaning behind what their Making Waves Project has evolved into. They said:
“To me, making waves means taking the time to talk to people, to make people feel really seen and really heard. Making waves means leaving the person, the moment, the situation better than I found it. Making waves means that you never have to be alone again because everybody has a story.”
This is how I feel about us coming together in spaces that allow us to explore the nuanced conversations around our body image. We each have a body image story. Through this project of A Broadway Body: Continued Conversations my hope is to provide a space for my guests to feel comfortable enough to share theirs with me. And by proxy, I hope that in doing so, we inspire others listening to start having these types of conversations, in any capacity, amongst their close people.
The intersection of girlhood and body image is the catalyst to change the body image narrative for ourselves and the whole. When we create such deep, safe, loving relationships with other women, this provides us a space to show up and be real without the fear judgement. I also think naming the elephant in the room of how we individually relate to and exist in our bodies a powerful and bold move - especially when a thought pops into your head and you can feel yourself starting to become less present.
When we unveil why we feel the way we do about our bodies amongst a group of other women, we take the power back from whatever outside sources have taught us to feel these ways. I also think that what we might find by sharing our individual body image stories is that we’re so not alone in this - we’re essentially all fighting some version of the same fight.
I really do believe in the impact of open, vulnerable conversation amongst a group of people that feel wildly safe with each other. When we give way for safety and trust, we’re able to more fully be ourselves. We’re able to more deeply connect and more openly share when we’re struggling with certain things. It provides a space to discuss topics that might feel vulnerable or bring up intense feelings. And when we do this, when we give voice to what we’re navigating through in our inner world, we not only strengthen the connection with our people, we come closer to inner healing.
If you’re in a place of starting to talk about thoughts you have about your body with your close friends, what’s something you find coming up for you?
xx Megan
While I’m not a licensed therapist, registered dietician, or medical health professional and cannot speak to body image topics from a clinical, trauma-informed place, I am an expert of lived experience. I’m an academic of my own body, and I’m passionate about facilitating conversations with other humans about their relationships with their bodies. I believe it’s important to continue conversations about healthy body image in creative spaces as a means to heal individuals as well as the collective whole. But just know the information presented in this medium is not professional mental health advice or medical advice, and any questions or concerns you have should always be directed to your healthcare providers.