"Regardless of how well you eat, how much you exercise or what diet you are on, if your inner life is not in order, it will be difficult for you to be at peace with yourself or your body. Often we hear that it is important to accept our body (and love it) just the way it is. That may seem like a daunting task, but to create true peace within yourself, you need to look beyond your height, weight, genetic predispositions, and other physical attributes. In your quest to achieve a certain level of physical fitness, consider the importance of forgiveness.

The Past Is the Past, Let It Go
The most important process you can undertake for your health and wellbeing is to make a conscious effort to release negative energy embedded in the past. In an effort to be at one with your own body, it is essential to live in the present moment and let go of all the hurts and struggles that have led you to this moment in time. There is only one road to achieving a state of oneness with your body – the act of letting go.

In her healing lecture series, Why People Don't Heal, Caroline Myss makes the claim that forgiveness is the number-one way to move forward in achieving and maintaining good health. She has used the process of letting go to transform people from a state of near death to one of glowing health. With this in mind then, ask yourself: “Is there anyone or anything from my past preventing me from moving forward?”

Forgive Others
Learning how to forgive others is the next step in your progress of releasing the past so you can love your body. Keep in mind that others commonly say and do things because of how they are feeling about themselves. And usually, whether they are aware of it or not, unhealthy individuals inflict their wounds upon others to salve their own pain. You can prevent someone else's pain from affecting you if you do as author Don Miguel Ruiz explains in his book The Four Agreements: “Do not take things personally.” Taking things personally only results in a lifetime of emotional baggage – a heavy load to carry. Think of it as an unnecessary burden (or added weight) to carry around.

In order to shed that excess baggage, consider whether there is anyone you need to forgive. Has someone conveyed their thoughts (either knowingly or unknowingly) in a way that has influenced your body image and self-esteem? If so, those insecurities are your wounds to heal. Forgiving the people in your past will allow you to move forward without holding on to a negative self view and insecurity.

An Exercise in Loving Your Body
Once you have let go of negative energy, you can live fully in the present. It is here that you are able to begin integrating a positive body image. There are many ways to learn how to build positive feelings about your body. Begin the process by taking a current inventory of your body. Consider keeping a journal if you do not already. Here is how it works:

1) Make Peace With Your Body
Scan your body – body part by body part – and note the parts you like. Ask yourself: “What parts of my body am I grateful to have? What gifts does my body allow me to share?” Write down your answers. Although at first this may seem awkward, it is essential to spend time with your body and learn to know it.

After you have noted all the positive aspects of your body, list the parts you would like to change. Make notes to yourself about how you will go about making any changes for the better. Some changes may be out of your control. If so, take time every day to consciously send love to the parts of your body that you cannot change. This process is about accepting your body and your whole self for who you are, right now.

2) Become Aware of Your Body
If you pay attention, your body will tell you its story if you just observe your own body language. What is your body telling you about your relationship with it? Take a look at yourself right now. Are your arms crossed? Are you slouching? Your posture may be telling the world that you are closing others out or feeling unhappy. (It also compresses your organs and makes it harder for them to serve you.)

In his bestselling book, Body Language: The Essential Secrets of Non-Verbal Communication, Julius Fast tells us that the scientific study, of body language,called kinesics, that has proven that body language is actually more accurately expressive then verbal communication is. If you have poor posture, crossed arms and averted eyes, you are giving out a negative vibe to everyone around you. Conversely, you can exhibit positive body language and a positive vibe through eye contact, strong posture and a confident stance.

3) Find Something You Love About Yourself and Let It Expand
This step can be tricky. It may not be difficult to find a few things about yourself that you like, but this step asks you to find a part of yourself that you love. Take a good look into the mirror and ask yourself: “What do I love most about my body?” Write this in your journal and consult the notes you made earlier. Do not stop until you come up with something about your body that you really love.
positive body language

Perhaps with a spoonful of acceptance you can find myriad things about your body that are loveable. From now on take some time every day to address the positive parts of your body. Encourage more self love and respect yourself by carving out time for little things that feel good – a soak in a bubble bath, a bike ride or a date with an old friend. Make an appointment for a massage or schedule an over-night getaway.

In Conclusion
Consider the freedom your body gives you. Thank it for the way it continues to support you. Muse in your journal or simply stop to affirm and congratulate yourself when you accomplish something good for it such as completing your exercise for the day. Accept yourself for doing the best you can at any moment in time, and focus on all of your positive qualities. Although loving yourself and your body is guaranteed to be a lifelong process, try to differentiate between your real frustrations from the ones that have become muddied by the superficial. Realize the perfection in which you were created. Focus on all of your positive qualities – physical and non-physical. Make an effort to forgive the past and move into the present. Prepare to grow!"
http://www.balancedlivingmag.com/2007/Sept - Oct 07/Love Your Body, Forgive Yourself.htm