Taylor Swift Encourages Body Positivity This Holiday Season

Listen up, peeps! Taylor Swift is on a mission: love your bod this festive season!

Ah, the holiday season! A time for celebrating with loved ones, indulging in tasty treats, and…drowning in negative self-talk about our bods? Ugh, not cool! We’re barely into the festive season, and already our brains are buzzing with extreme measures and body shame.

At ATFG, our pink couches have been witnesses to some deep chats lately, with bad to the bone, body image and restriction hogging the limelight. This game of life is a constant balancing act, and just like the new hunger games movie often the odds are not in our favor – especially when it comes to body positivity.
The messaging around the holiday season can be a difficult time as we are encouraged to indulge, yet we are simultaneously bombarded with messages on what it means to be healthy and fit and to set those resolutions before it’s too late. ARRGH.

Enough with those negative messages! Let’s smash them to smithereens and embrace a body-positive attitude! Cue the legendary Taylor Swift – the reigning queen of Spotify – whose empowering lyrics and messages will help you feel like she wrote those songs just for you.

Let’s ring in her birthday this December by cozying up in our living rooms and streaming the ERA’s tour movie. No need to worry about looking flawless before the new year, let’s just vibe with T-Swift and embrace our beautiful selves!

Hold up! Before we hit play on the movie version of the ERA Tour, let’s give a shout-out to all the wise words and lyrics Taylor’s been serving up about body positivity. Swifties worldwide, take note! ( this is just a short list of songs that have inspired our clients, therapist sand caregivers, feel free to make a playlist of all your body possy songs)

“Shake It Off”: A Song That Moved Me
I remember the first time I heard “Shake It Off” and how it really struck a chord with me. The upbeat rhythm and catchy lyrics inspired me to let go of my doubts and enjoy myself. Plus, this was the first time I took my niece to see Taylor Swift on her 1989 tour. Lyrics like the “haters are gonna hate” and

I’m dancin’ on my own (dancin’ on my own)
I’ll make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that’s what they don’t know, mm-mm
That’s what they don’t know, mm-mm

Taylor Swift’s words about ignoring negativity and embracing your true self really hit home. I started to view my body in a positive light and celebrate my unique qualities. I think the song is also about who you surround yourself with and have they earned the right to see you dance?

Shake that booty or hit the gym – it’s the perfect recipe for feeling fabulous about your bod! So, don’t be shy, get that heart pumping and those endorphins flowing!

If you need inspo here the link to the ERAS tour movie

Mean : How to talk to your body with respect

You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like I’m nothing

While these lyrics are directed towards a specific individual, they can also be applied to the way we speak to ourselves, particularly about our physical appearance. The cruel self-talk we direct towards our thighs, hips, forehead, and other features can be just as damaging as bullying in the music business. These negative thoughts take up residency in our minds, affecting our self-esteem and overall well-being. It’s time to evict them and replace them with positive self-talk.

Here are some of my favorite body possy mantras :

My bod is a superhero that lets me rock what I love!

My body is the superhero not the anti-hero

In order for my body to function it needs fuel

Besides using a mantra you might also want to let go of old ideas about food.

Stay beautiful: Accepting you for you

You’re a unique gem because there’s no one else like “you.” Cheesy but oh-so-true!

It’s true that our bodies and minds are what make us uniquely human. We have the ability to think, feel, and create in ways that no other species can. Our bodies are also incredibly complex, with intricate systems that allow us to move, breathe, and live.

However, our society often places a lot of emphasis on physical appearance and conformity. We’re bombarded with messages that tell us we need to look and act a certain way to be accepted. But just like a tree, our bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s something to be celebrated.

It’s important to remember that our bodies are not objects to be judged or scrutinized, but rather vessels that allow us to experience the world around us. By embracing our unique qualities and learning to love ourselves just as we are, we can become the best versions of ourselves and live more fulfilling lives.

So let’s take a cue from nature and appreciate the beauty of diversity and individuality, both in ourselves and in others.

You’re beautiful
Every little piece, love don’t you know?
You’re really gonna be someone
Ask anyone
And when you find everything you’ve looked for
I hope your love leads you back to my door
Oh, but if it don’t, stay beautiful

Anti-Hero : The most talk about topic on our pink couches

Swift has been open about her struggles with body image, which reflects in her lyrics from Anti-Hero,

“I’ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror.”

Just like Taylor, many of our clients struggle with negative self-talk and avoid looking in the mirror altogether. If you also find yourself shying away from your reflection because of those pesky “shame gremlins” that make you feel worthless, try focusing on something you like about yourself. For instance, try getting up close to the mirror to examine your eyes – this simple exercise can help you start appreciating the good things about yourself.

We’ve all been there ( just like in the music video)- the dreaded moment when we step on that scale and it screams FAT! Maybe we’ve even gone as far as calling ourselves even worse. That’s why we’re all about changing the dialogue. Instead of beating ourselves up, let’s practice saying “I have some fat, just like I have brown hair.” Trust us, words can make all the difference.

Bejeweled:The Song of Self-Compassion
Our clients have found solace in the song Bejeweled, playing it repeatedly on days when they feel overwhelmed by shame. This song embodies the therapeutic technique of self-compassion, which is the perfect antidote to shame.