{via etsy by Lupen Grainne}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Mara chats with Hannah all about self-love in this poignant video.

Anna reveals what she’s learned from lap swimming and shares 5 tips for trying something new. I also love her post on having your own back.

Rosie shares powerful tips on moving from self-defeat to self-belief. Why is this even important? According to Rosie:

Too many of us do it: berate and belittle ourselves until what’s left is simply defeat.  Eradicating negative self-talk (from I’m fat to I’m not loveable, from I’m incompetent to I’m stupid) is some of the most important work we can do because it gets us out of our own way and allows us to move from paralysis to acceptance of our selves and action in our lives.

You might be thinking, “Why does what I say to myself even matter?  They are just thoughts.”  But thoughts are not that innocuous.   The reality is that we manifest what we think.  If we believe we have limits, we subconsciously place those limits on ourselves, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy so it is particularly important that we be extra mindful of what we say to ourselves.

Rachel’s writing is always honest, thoughtful and a breath of fresh air. (Plus, it helps me feel much more confident about my choices and myself. Her work is just incredibly empowering.)  This post on being an occasional yogi really resonated with me. Here’s a snippet of her beautiful reminder:

In a good week, I find my way to my mat at home and my body tells me what what it needs. It’s almost always gentle and restorative. It rarely lasts more than 20 minutes.

Would I like to go to a good class more frequently? Certainly.

Would I like to have more of the post-yoga class joy in my body? Yes.

Does this make me a yoga failure? No.

I’ve learned that that right now I don’t need to be a hot-yoga, hand-standing master in order to feel how I want to feel in my life and to live in alignment with myself and others.

What I am is a curious woman who’s dedicated her life to the slow and tender process of returning home (as often as possible) to her body and to a life based in self-trust.

What I am is just like you. Perfectly imperfect. Doing my best. Ebbing and flowing. Sometimes in the flow. Sometimes a bit off course.

What are your favorite rituals?

Linda Bacon, the author of one of my favorite books, Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, recently launched her new website. It’s filled with valuable information and resources on Health At Every Size.

7 tips for enjoying a nourishing morning.

3 tips for being mindful at work.

What are your favorite reads from the week? What are your favorite rituals?

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    Last reviewed: 17 Mar 2013