So much of our
self image evolves during those often challenging middle school years…
We are too tall,
too short, too fat, too skinny or our noses and ears are still too big for our
heads…
Seriously, between
hormones and growth spurts, for most of us these tend to be truly precarious
years!
And if we throw in
the well meaning 'help' that comes our way:
"You are not thinking of wearing that out of the house, are you?!"
It's a miracle
that we ever do make it out of the house… and that any of our self esteem
survives!
DANCE WITH IT! EXPERIENTIAL APPS
An opportunity to
experiment with some fun ideas…
HERE'S ONE TO TRY:
Next time you look
in that morning mirror ask yourself who is evaluating your appearance…
Mom?
Dad?
Sibling?
First
boy/girlfriend?
Other?
As you identify each
person, role-play them making comments about your appearance. Really get into it. Can you mimic their voice?
Now you might want
to talk back to them - you know, saying all those things that you never said back
then…
(The idea of this
exercise is to sensitize yourself to where your self perceptual beliefs are
coming from.)
Finally, ask
yourself what age of your life your own eyes got 'locked in'…
