An inspiring journey of self-acceptance
I love sharing real stories of transformation, so let me introduce you to Fiona.
Fiona's life was turned upside down when her marriage ended. As a mother of two and a successful career woman in busy London, she felt like she was juggling too many things at once.
The divorce hit her hard, leaving her feeling guilty, ashamed, and worried about how it would affect her children.
Fiona was not the typical delicate figure. She was tall with broad shoulders, and she often felt like she stood out in a crowd.
In an attempt to fit in, she started starving herself, trying to shrink her body to match society's standards of beauty. She also wouldn't leave the house without makeup, fearing the judgmental gaze of strangers and longing to feel accepted, if only for a moment.
But deep down, beneath the layers of self-doubt and insecurity, Fiona was silently battling herself. Despite her external success and achievements, she wrestled with feelings of inadequacy, shame, and guilt, particularly after her divorce.
She felt like she didn't measure up to society's standards of beauty and femininity, leading her to engage in harmful behaviours like starving herself and obsessing over her appearance.
This inner conflict manifested as a constant battle between who she felt she should be and who she truly was, creating a deep sense of turmoil, disconnection and unrest within her. Frances longed to break free from the cages of society's expectations and embrace her true self, but the journey seemed scary.
And so, with hesitation and a heart heavy with doubt, she began her journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
It was not easy.
There were days when Fiona felt like she was drowning in a sea of inadequacy and awkwardness, when the weight of the world threatened to crush her spirit. But with each step forward, she found the strength to keep going, fuelled by a flicker of hope that burned bright within her.
She didn't know the way forward, but she knew there was no turning back, the days of self-judgement and being hard on herself were over.
And then, one day, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, something clicked. Fiona started seeing the world from a different perspective, and the veil of society's conditioning started to slowly lift.
She started to take up space in the world and stopped trying to make herself small. Fiona started walking confidently while dismissing self-judgmental thoughts one by one. She grounded herself into her mantra: "I am allowed to take up space, I am enough as I am."
Keep reading this blog post here (Inadequacy and a journey of self-acceptance)
For more inspiring stories of resilience and strength, check out my latest podcast episode with Agness (From 18 Years of Bulimia to True Freedom) https://youtu.be/vAMe3Nny3dM?si=fqSoSR8Ilb5t2KnP
Do you have an inspiring story of recovery you'd like to share with the world? Hit reply to pitch to be interviewed on my new podcast.
I'll be wrapping up the Empowered Eating Newsletter in a few weeks; if there are any specific topics you'd like to hear more about, please let me know. Send an email to [email protected]
Together, We Rise.
All the love,
Emi Souza
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