Positive Body Image-Life Challenges

Creative Ways to Transform Challenges:
Loving and Nurturing Yourself

BODY IMAGE: SEEING YOURSELF IN A NEW LIGHT Jennifer Robin

Connecting with your body image in a positive way begins to happen when you focus on your assets instead of your perceived imperfections. Finding aspects of your body to appreciate and in turn highlighting them with clothing is a great first step. Over the years I’ve become quite skilled at looking in the mirror and focusing on the “good” parts and ignoring the “flaws”, but my work as an artist engaged in the process of learning to see has shown me that we need to look more openly, see ourselves more fully. When we go further and view our body as a whole we will find ourselves to be even more beautiful.

Whenever you focus on one aspect to the exclusion of another you distort your ability to see. Let me tell you about the experiences that reshaped my vision. Several years ago I started taking Figure Drawing classes. Each week we had a different live model. Before me stood a beautiful naked body, and I was to capture it’s likeness on my drawing pad. At first all I could see were parts; breasts, bellies, buttocks, nipples, impossibly large male genitalia. Distinctive features were the only thing my untrained eye could focus on. “Proportion, proportion”, my instructor Carol would say over and over. “Gage the length of the torso, notice how the pelvis sits, look how the shoulder attaches to the collarbone.” When you draw you see how every connection matters; the distance between the collarbone and breast, breasts to navel, the navel to the pubic bone. Our eyes needed to make hundreds of tiny measurements as we contoured the landscape of each particular model. My torsos were invariably too long and took up the entire page. The breasts and thighs were too prominent. “Try to learn to see inside” she said, as she sent me home with books on anatomy and instructions to try and visualize the underlying musculature.

See the Whole

Learn to see the whole instead of the parts seemed to be what was required. If I could do this, would it in turn allow me to view the underlying balance and symmetry of my own body? If only I could learn to see myself as I was starting to see the models. As an image consultant, I saw the body as a collection of pluses and minuses, areas to emphasize and areas to downplay. Now I was learning the secret to understanding form was to seeing all parts and proportions as a unified whole. After class I would go home and look in a full-length mirror, squinting at my own body, trying to imagine it in front of my group, viewed in its entirety instead of the limited, sidelong way I had always looked at it. One day I was feeling both brave and curious, so I set up my easel, got out my big pad of newsprint, and sketched myself.

At first my waist and rounded belly appeared huge to my critical eyes. As I got lost in my drawing they slowly began to become part of the greater form, just another curve flowing into the integrated and superbly proportioned whole. I stopped seeing disjointed “parts” and started seeing unity. My view of my body changed from acceptance to appreciation. This new way of seeing has remarkably enhanced my ability to choose flattering, and most importantly, expressive clothing. A greater connection to my physical form allows me to connect even more fully with my essence/spirit. What a revelation to see all of me!

As my class drawings improved, I became more aware that the models were more than a collection of assorted shapes and curves, but were fully animated by their unique physicality . Each expressed themselves differently with the poses they chose. Solid, muscular Andrew posed with great strength and concentration. Ballerina Peggy was happiest in motion. Willowy Wanda naturally let her body form into sensuously curved poses, while Tierza’s lithe body vibrated with drama. We students tried to capture their unique essence as well as their gestures. We marvel at the colors of their skin, look for patterns of light and dark, and attempt to create the weight and breadth of these living creatures on the flat picture plane of our canvas. I’ve noticed that when we have a fuller female model that everyone breathes easier, because for those few hours we are all allowed to enjoy the pleasure of looking at sensuous fleshy curves. As we take in the lushness, we are healing our own inner critics, awakening to the experience that all forms in nature are beautiful.

Appreciate Your Body

Are you wondering if I’ve learned to see my clients differently as well? I believe I have. I’m much more conscious of how their body forms a beautifully balanced, intelligent, integrated whole. I tell them so, but if they hear me they rarely believe it. The harsh critic in the mirror drowns out my voice. Fortunately, the vision of themselves in the new clothing is persuasive.

I don’t expect you to take up figure drawing in order to learn to see and understand the beauty of your body. Not all of the women in my classes even share my experience of enhanced self-appreciation. What can we do to feel more loving toward the image we see reflected in the mirror? The fact that our culture has a ridiculously limited idea of what constitutes physical beauty is not a revelation to most of us, yet we still struggle to accept the size and shape of our own bodies. Even if we know intellectually that the images plastered on magazine covers are unrealistic and unhealthy, it is still difficult to accept whatever shape our body happens to be in now. As a society we have a long way to go, and for the sake of the next generation of young women as well as for ourselves, our personal and collective vision must change. As you join the wave of women changing their attitudes, you become part of the force for greater cultural change. Improving your body image begins with changing your attitude to one that is more healthy and realistic, but you can also improve your visual perception of yourself. The key is learning to see yourself in a new way.

If you want to view yourself differently, reclaim the beauty of your body’s unique spirit and expressiveness, I have some suggestions to help you.

Discover what is authentically beautiful to you. If you find yourself longing to look like the ultra-thin model you see in a magazine, question that. Is it really beautiful, or just familiar? Do you really think flat stomachs and muscular arms are aesthetic? Do you feel your heart open when you look at images of rounder, fuller women? Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Pay attention to how something you are looking at is affecting you.

Recreate Your Self Image

Decide what you value. Maybe you like the look of super-toned bodies, but do you want to spend that much time working on it? Move in ways you enjoy. Let your body express who you are and what is important to you.

Opportunities abound for you to “re-vision” your self image. Connect to your own strength and voluptuousness by looking at photographs and paintings of larger, curvier women. Check out MODE Magazine. The models are gorgeous, and they inspire us to stop hiding and be more daring. I’m also moved by the beauty of classical paintings. The rounded shapes of the women in Degas’ bather series are my favorite. Renoir creates a lovely lushness in many of the women he paints.

Surround yourself with people that make you feel beautiful. Your opinion of yourself lags the furthest behind, but fortunately you are susceptible to positive influences. If someone tells you something about your body is beautiful, let it in.

Get help understanding what clothes flatter your figure. Wear clothes that fit perfectly and reflect your spirit. If the stores overwhelm you and nothing seems to fit, seek out an expert for advice.

Strengthen your awareness of your uniqueness. Get together with other women and share some of the ideas that inspire you.

Finally, remember that learning to see yourself in a positive way is a process. Everything you see, hear, or tell yourself contributes to your self-image. Embrace who you are now, and all you are becoming.

Jennifer Robin, author, image consultant, artist and colorist, is passionate about color and self-expression. Helping individuals express their unique qualities with the clothing they choose, her book Clothe Your Spirit: Dressing For Self Expression, pioneered the connection between the essence of the person and their visual presentation Her service “Clothe Your Spirit” provides color analysis, custom make-up, wardrobe consulting, and personal shopping. She also leads seminars and workshops for professional and social groups. Jennifer is also a painter and visual artist, painting landscape and figurative work in brilliantly colored mixed media and pastels. She can be reached at 415-383-1814, or visit her website at www.clotheyourspirit.com.

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