Body Neutrality Vs. Body Positivity

Loving our bodies is a hard place to get to but we don't have to love our bodies in order to be in recovery or fully recovered from an eating disorder. I used to think the two were synonymous but now realize they are not. One thing that is helpful is to practice body neutrality and/or body toleration. Catch the negative and degrading thoughts at their onslaught and decide to challenge them with body neutrality statements. So, what is body neutrality? The goal of Body neutrality is to dial down the enormous significance that's being given to physical appearance in our society. It goes beyond body-positivity in that it's not just about pushing back on the specific beauty ideas of our time, but on all aspects of society that continue to promote beauty as essential, consequential, and the ultimate accomplishment, and a person's appearance as indicative of their worth. A body neutral statement would be stating some way that you feel about your body that has nothing to do with your appearance. For example a body neutral statement would be "I am grateful for my arms for they can cary my children". Body neutrality focuses on what the body can do and not what it looks like. This concept and movement has radically changed my life and I hope it helps others as well. Even the average woman who does not have an eating disorder struggles with her body image to some extent but to those with an eating disorder it's all consuming and life interrupting. My personal therapist is fully recovered from an eating disorder and she was very candid with me sharing that does not love her body but she practices body toleration and neutrality daily. She has inspired me so much and her statement of "you don't have to love your body to be fully recovered" changed my beliefs and views on this subject. I felt I kept chasing this "you have to love our body to be fully recovered" mentality but I know realize the two do not have to coincide. Here is to hoping one day I do find body love but now for body neutrality and toleration have changed how I view and relate to my own body. If I never get to body love, it's ok because I now know I can be fully recovered without it. I will be happy to welcome body love if it ever becomes a part of my journey but for now I will settle with body neutrality and toleration.