Naked Time!

Yes, I just said that.

I'm just going to put it on the record that I think all people (no matter your body issues) should have naked time.  I don't care if it's around your home, just under the covers, lights on or lights off.  You should spend more than 10 minutes a day (shower) completely buck naked, the longer the better.  And for the purpose of what I'm saying, this naked time should be alone.

Almost everyone has some type of body issue -- something they don't particularly like about themselves.  More often than not, that feeling comes from outside of them (TV, magazines, other people, etc.).  The only antidote to that illness is to be naked.  Touch your body (not just in that way).  Feel your skin, your muscles, even your fat.  Come to appreciate the parts you love and the parts that you don't love as much.  Feel how your body moves.  Feel your strength from inside out.

Lastly, stand in front of a full length mirror and tell yourself that you love yourself.  It doesn't count if you giggle while doing it.  Look at yourself and try to, in a sincere way, tell yourself that you are beautiful and worthy.  We all deserve to hear that, even if no one else is telling us we're worthy of being loved.  It's not narcissism.  It's not an invitation to critique.  It's reprogramming the dialogue we have with our own bodies.

And if you're already at that point, I highly suggest taking a photo of yourself naked.  I know, sounds scary.  I'm not talking about porn; I'm talking about an objective way to view yourself from the outside.  If you have a trusted friend to take the picture, or if you have a digital camera with a timer, just do it.  You don't have to keep it or display it.  But do yourself a favor and do this.  You might realize just how critical you are of your own body when really it's a work of art.