May 3, 2024 • 8 mins
Send some quick feedback! Click here.
Receive my free monthly journal full of food, fitness, faith, fun & more
Connect with Amy:
GracedHealth.com
Join the Graced Health community on Facebook!
Instagram: @GracedHealth
YouTube: @AmyConnell
Join GracedHealth+ for virtual community meetups and bonus episodes
Leave a one-time tip of $5
Check out my book Your Worthy Body and signature online class B.COMPLETE
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter 3.
O?
How can I celebrate myoriginality?
When you look in the mirror,how do you see yourself?
How do you feel about your body?
This might be a very loadedquestion for you.
I've gone through variousresponses to these questions
throughout my own life.
In some seasons I've foundacceptance and, dare I say,
(00:24):
pride.
In some seasons I've foundacceptance and, dare I say,
pride.
But in far too many seasons Ihave felt somewhere on the
spectrum between unhappy,discouraged and ashamed.
Why is it so challenging toaccept our bodies?
Volumes of books have beenwritten attempting to answer
(00:48):
this question, but I think itcomes down to this we have a
hard time celebrating theoriginality God created in all
of us.
How can you celebrate youroriginal body?
Consider the three G's.
God's original design isevident in your unique body.
If you've grown up in the church, you're probably familiar with
Genesis 127.
God created mankind in his ownimage.
(01:10):
You may have heard Psalm 139.14as well.
I praise you because I amfearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
I know that full well.
May I be honest, I still have ahard time wrapping my brain
around that.
How am I made in the image ofGod when everyone on earth looks
(01:32):
so different from each otherand they're all made in his
image as well.
But it's like the physicshomework my son does.
Just because I don't understandit doesn't mean it's not true.
Have you ever seen a parentintroduce their new baby?
Their wide smiles and shiningeyes show their love for their
(01:54):
child.
Or maybe you remember having ayounger sibling you were so
proud to hold and meet?
This is a fraction of the prideGod takes in each of us.
God specifically designed myunique body, yours too.
He has a plan and a purpose foreach of our bodies, which is
(02:15):
why he tasks us with taking careof them.
If he wanted our bodies to looktaller, shorter, leaner or
juicier probably not a term Goduses, but you never know then he
would have made them that way.
Your differences are evidenceof God's original design.
Imagine your favorite Netflixshow.
(02:35):
Now think what that show wouldbe like if the cast of
characters were all basicallythe same.
Their genders, personalitiesand even physical
characteristics were identical.
Pretty boring, huh.
Their differences workingtogether is what draws us to the
stories they act out.
God made our differences as afull cast of characters and he
(03:01):
designed our original bodies onpurpose, for a purpose, within
his script of life.
Genetics play an uncontrollablefactor.
I recently went on a trip withmy sister and our husbands.
We were both tickled by howmany people asked if we were
sisters.
(03:21):
But for all the physicalsimilarities we have, we also
have differences.
Genetics plays a huge role inour physical appearances.
If you've been through a basicbiology class, you probably
already know this.
Some genes, such as the onesthat decide eye color and skin
tone, are easy to see.
(03:41):
Others, like the ones thatcontrol bone density and
metabolic differences, are not.
Your parents gave you a uniqueset of characteristics.
I can point out my husband'sframe in one of my sons and my
nose in the other.
You may have your mom's eyes,dad's skin tone and grandma's
smile.
Even if you don't knoweverything about your family
(04:04):
history, you carry yourancestors' genetic history.
Families that come togetherthrough adoption create a
beautiful mix of nature andnurture.
You may not be fully aware ofyour genetics, but you are
shaped by the God-designedfamily you are in.
The unique values and dynamicsthat are imparted to you through
(04:25):
family.
Members and peers play a hugerole as well.
How your family celebrates,worships, eats, moves, relaxes
and vacations all contribute tothe way you relate to the world.
When my kids were little andcomplained about what I chose
for them to watch on TV, I wouldtell them you get what you get
(04:47):
and you don't throw a fit.
Sometimes I wonder if God wantsto say that to us when we
complain about the unique andoriginal characteristics he
specifically gave each of ourbodies.
Glory-filled.
Cultures are different and theystill change.
Have you ever learned aboutwhat is considered beautiful by
(05:10):
cultures other than your own?
Not all cultures have the samebody ideal.
As a white woman, I can't claimto be the authority on this,
but the area where I live is oneof the most diverse counties in
the country.
When I asked a multi-ethnicFacebook group of women in my
community what is traditionallyconsidered beautiful and
(05:30):
desirable by their culture oforigin, the answers varied.
As far as the world is round.
I heard from Chinese women whodesired a soft and slim body,
latinas who looked for curvesand long, thick, wavy hair,
indian women who were obsessedwith big eyes and beautiful
(05:51):
lashes and eyebrows and notbeing skinny, and Nigerians who
desired long legs, big butts andwide hips.
Additionally, I've learned thatAfrican-American women's body
image doesn't begin and end withsize, as it often does for
white women.
For some Black women, a biggerbody might demonstrate health
(06:13):
and strength, and studies showthat Black women are more
accepting of a wider range ofbody shapes.
Throughout American history, thedefinition of beauty has
constantly been in flux, and ifwe aren't careful, it takes our
confidence along for the bumpyride.
Want proof?
Consider the ideal Americanbody during these time periods
(06:35):
1920s flat chest, downplayedwaist, bobbed hair, boyish
figure.
1930s to the 1950s curves,hourglass figure, large breasts,
slim waist, think pinup girls.
1960s willowy, thin, long, slimlegs, adolescent physique.
(06:56):
1980s athletic, svelte, butcurvy, tall, toned arms.
1990s waifish, extremely thin,translucent skin, androgynous.
2000s to today flat stomach,healthy, skinny, tan, large
(07:17):
breasts and butts, thigh gaps.
I go into more depth in my firstbook, your Worthy Body, if
you'd like to read more.
I hope you get the point,though.
Our cultures of origin mayimpact how we feel about our
bodies, but it's not the samefor everyone.
Since every culture is createdand blessed by God, our unique
(07:38):
bodies can confidently glorifyhim, no matter how we grew up or
where we came from.
The world is fickle.
If we let it determine whetherwe feel good about how we look,
we'll never keep up.
Besides, why should we strivefor an ideal body when God never
says there is one, regardlessof culture.
(07:59):
This is why we have to keeprevisiting our truth.
We were uniquely made by God onpurpose, for a purpose.
As cheesy as it sounds, youtruly are an original.
Celebrate it.
Chapter 3.
O?
How can I celebrate myoriginality?
When you look in the mirror,how do you see yourself?
How do you feel about your body?
This might be a very loadedquestion for you.
I've gone through variousresponses to these questions
throughout my own life.
In some seasons I've foundacceptance and, dare I say,
(00:24):
pride.
In some seasons I've foundacceptance and, dare I say,
pride.
But in far too many seasons Ihave felt somewhere on the
spectrum between unhappy,discouraged and ashamed.
Why is it so challenging toaccept our bodies?
Volumes of books have beenwritten attempting to answer
(00:48):
this question, but I think itcomes down to this we have a
hard time celebrating theoriginality God created in all
of us.
How can you celebrate youroriginal body?
Consider the three G's.
God's original design isevident in your unique body.
If you've grown up in the church, you're probably familiar with
Genesis 127.
God created mankind in his ownimage.
(01:10):
You may have heard Psalm 139.14as well.
I praise you because I amfearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
I know that full well.
May I be honest, I still have ahard time wrapping my brain
around that.
How am I made in the image ofGod when everyone on earth looks
(01:32):
so different from each otherand they're all made in his
image as well.
But it's like the physicshomework my son does.
Just because I don't understandit doesn't mean it's not true.
Have you ever seen a parentintroduce their new baby?
Their wide smiles and shiningeyes show their love for their
(01:54):
child.
Or maybe you remember having ayounger sibling you were so
proud to hold and meet?
This is a fraction of the prideGod takes in each of us.
God specifically designed myunique body, yours too.
He has a plan and a purpose foreach of our bodies, which is
(02:15):
why he tasks us with taking careof them.
If he wanted our bodies to looktaller, shorter, leaner or
juicier probably not a term Goduses, but you never know then he
would have made them that way.
Your differences are evidenceof God's original design.
Imagine your favorite Netflixshow.
(02:35):
Now think what that show wouldbe like if the cast of
characters were all basicallythe same.
Their genders, personalitiesand even physical
characteristics were identical.
Pretty boring, huh.
Their differences workingtogether is what draws us to the
stories they act out.
God made our differences as afull cast of characters and he
(03:01):
designed our original bodies onpurpose, for a purpose, within
his script of life.
Genetics play an uncontrollablefactor.
I recently went on a trip withmy sister and our husbands.
We were both tickled by howmany people asked if we were
sisters.
(03:21):
But for all the physicalsimilarities we have, we also
have differences.
Genetics plays a huge role inour physical appearances.
If you've been through a basicbiology class, you probably
already know this.
Some genes, such as the onesthat decide eye color and skin
tone, are easy to see.
(03:41):
Others, like the ones thatcontrol bone density and
metabolic differences, are not.
Your parents gave you a uniqueset of characteristics.
I can point out my husband'sframe in one of my sons and my
nose in the other.
You may have your mom's eyes,dad's skin tone and grandma's
smile.
Even if you don't knoweverything about your family
(04:04):
history, you carry yourancestors' genetic history.
Families that come togetherthrough adoption create a
beautiful mix of nature andnurture.
You may not be fully aware ofyour genetics, but you are
shaped by the God-designedfamily you are in.
The unique values and dynamicsthat are imparted to you through
(04:25):
family.
Members and peers play a hugerole as well.
How your family celebrates,worships, eats, moves, relaxes
and vacations all contribute tothe way you relate to the world.
When my kids were little andcomplained about what I chose
for them to watch on TV, I wouldtell them you get what you get
(04:47):
and you don't throw a fit.
Sometimes I wonder if God wantsto say that to us when we
complain about the unique andoriginal characteristics he
specifically gave each of ourbodies.
Glory-filled.
Cultures are different and theystill change.
Have you ever learned aboutwhat is considered beautiful by
(05:10):
cultures other than your own?
Not all cultures have the samebody ideal.
As a white woman, I can't claimto be the authority on this,
but the area where I live is oneof the most diverse counties in
the country.
When I asked a multi-ethnicFacebook group of women in my
community what is traditionallyconsidered beautiful and
(05:30):
desirable by their culture oforigin, the answers varied.
As far as the world is round.
I heard from Chinese women whodesired a soft and slim body,
latinas who looked for curvesand long, thick, wavy hair,
indian women who were obsessedwith big eyes and beautiful
(05:51):
lashes and eyebrows and notbeing skinny, and Nigerians who
desired long legs, big butts andwide hips.
Additionally, I've learned thatAfrican-American women's body
image doesn't begin and end withsize, as it often does for
white women.
For some Black women, a biggerbody might demonstrate health
(06:13):
and strength, and studies showthat Black women are more
accepting of a wider range ofbody shapes.
Throughout American history, thedefinition of beauty has
constantly been in flux, and ifwe aren't careful, it takes our
confidence along for the bumpyride.
Want proof?
Consider the ideal Americanbody during these time periods
(06:35):
1920s flat chest, downplayedwaist, bobbed hair, boyish
figure.
1930s to the 1950s curves,hourglass figure, large breasts,
slim waist, think pinup girls.
1960s willowy, thin, long, slimlegs, adolescent physique.
(06:56):
1980s athletic, svelte, butcurvy, tall, toned arms.
1990s waifish, extremely thin,translucent skin, androgynous.
2000s to today flat stomach,healthy, skinny, tan, large
(07:17):
breasts and butts, thigh gaps.
I go into more depth in my firstbook, your Worthy Body, if
you'd like to read more.
I hope you get the point,though.
Our cultures of origin mayimpact how we feel about our
bodies, but it's not the samefor everyone.
Since every culture is createdand blessed by God, our unique
(07:38):
bodies can confidently glorifyhim, no matter how we grew up or
where we came from.
The world is fickle.
If we let it determine whetherwe feel good about how we look,
we'll never keep up.
Besides, why should we strivefor an ideal body when God never
says there is one, regardlessof culture.
(07:59):
This is why we have to keeprevisiting our truth.
We were uniquely made by God onpurpose, for a purpose.
As cheesy as it sounds, youtruly are an original.
Celebrate it.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.