Mondays can be rough for many of us, and this doesn’t create the ideal environment for building a better body image. To help you turn that around, every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit to help boost your body image – and kick-start the week on a positive note.

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

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Years ago, when my body image was in the dumps, I would’ve never thought of getting flowers for myself.

And if I had thought of it, I would’ve viewed it as a waste. Sure, I had no problem buying a new shirt or a good book.

But something like flowers?

Never.

It seemed too luxurious. Too extravagant.

I just didn’t deserve it.

If you remember, I had the same perspective on participating in a relaxing physical activity. If it didn’t mean shedding calories or pounds, I didn’t want any part of it.

Doing something because it simply made me feel good? No way!

Why would I cook a meal just for myself? Why would I eat something delicious and “caloric” and actually feel guiltless?

This was truly as foreign as treating myself to flowers. Especially to flowers that would die in a few days.

What was the point?

In her inspiring book Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance, Rosie Molinary lists buying flowers for yourself as a body image booster (that’s on day 154, if you’re wondering).

As she recounts the story in her book, when Rosie was a college administrator, she led a service trip to Brazil with an English professor. Whenever they’d meet in her office, Rosie noticed that the English professor always had fresh flowers around.

Rosie assumed that the professor’s husband bought her the flowers. But when she mentioned loving the regular presence of the fresh flowers, the professor said: “I buy them for myself every week.”

It might not seem like much, but buying yourself flowers is “such a simple act of self-love and such an easy  way to bring beauty into your life,” Rosie writes in her book.

Years later, Rosie bought herself a beautiful blue vase made by a North Carolina potter – specifically to hold her weekly bouquets. Every Saturday from April to October, she heads to the farmer’s market for her flowers. She writes:

“I always find flowers that I have never seen before, and when I hand over $10 for my Miss-America-size bouquet, I know that I am caring for and honoring myself.”

If flowers aren’t your thing, consider using this post as a symbol for something small yet wonderful that you typically wouldn’t treat yourself to.

Think about how you can honor yourself. How you can show yourself a bit of love.

Maybe for you that’s a manicure or pedicure, 30 minutes of meditation, a pretty journal, a plant, a delicious-smelling candle. Whatever that might be.

If you don’t think you deserve it, get it anyway.

This may be a small yet powerful and tangible gesture to honor yourself, to say, “I do deserve a treat. I do deserve to feel good for the sake of feeling good.”

Doing something healthy because of the sheer and pure enjoyment of it – minus the end result – is worth it. The journey is worth it.

Need some inspiration to treat yourself (whether it’s flowers or not)?

Here’s a sweet picture that will no doubt make you smile!

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For more of Rosie’s wise words, check out our past interviews on Weightless (part 1, part 2 and part 3).

P.S., If you’re confused about intuitive eating or would like to hear how it works, check out this interview with one of my favorite bloggers and people Joy Tanksley from Being Joy.

Does buying flowers for yourself seem like self-love to you or nothing special? What other ways can you honor yourself? What are your favorite flowers? (Mine are tulips!)

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    Last reviewed: 7 Feb 2011