FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️: BUILD A SELF-GRATITUDE PRACTICE FOR YOUR BODY

Your body is more than a vessel—it’s your connection to the world, your source of wisdom, and the foundation of your experiences. Give it the credit it deserves!

In this episode, I’m sharing simple yet impactful ways to shift how you view your body through the practice of self-gratitude.

🎧 Click play to nurture a kinder, more loving relationship with your body.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and visit flipsideofmidlife.com for more resources, events, and ways to connect with me.

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Transcript

FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️: BUILD A SELF-GRATITUDE PRACTICE FOR YOUR BODY

Think of a relationship you take for granted. One filled with harsh criticism and sometimes neglect. 

Can't think of one? Might this describe the relationship you have with your body? 

Keep listening, my friend. This episode is made to help you improve that relationship through the expression of gratitude.

{MUSIC INTRO} 

Welcome back to FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️. I'm Karli Newman, and it feels so good to be here with you today. 

You can never have too many kind, compassionate, positive, and supportive women in your midst, and I hope I am one of those women in your life. Midlife and beyond is an opportunity to peel back the layers that have formed over the years and shed those that no longer fit. You can listen to what your body, mind, and spirit are telling you, and then tap into your positive mindset and inner expertise to see and seize the possibilities all around you.

You are not on this journey alone, my friend. You are part of this community, and together we travel this road of ups and downs. 

I invite you to visit FLIPSIDEOFMIDLIFE. COM and sign up for the free emails you want to receive. To reap more benefits and to immerse more deeply in this community, join my ELEVATE membership, attend my events, and choose a way to work with me one-on-one.

Okay, let's dive into this episode.

Indulge me for a second. Remember the glory days of supermodels, fad diets, and the assortment of now-banned weight loss drugs from the 80s and 90s? Yeah, me too. 

Since we were young, we've been exposed to messaging that promoted, and this is in quotes, ideal body type, and reinforced feelings of dislike for the amazing body that we live in. Here we are decades later, and those thoughts might still lie close to the surface for many of us.

The shifts your body experiences in midlife and beyond can be frustrating. Your self-esteem may take a big hit if you're not paying attention. Rather than propping the door open for negative beliefs about your body to walk on in, express gratitude for all it does for you.

This is where you grab your journal, notebook, or favorite app, my friend. These next few minutes are full of ways to improve your relationship with your body through a self-gratitude practice. 

TIME MARKER 02:25

Let's start with three affirmations.

First, I'm grateful because my body connects me to the present. 

Through your senses- sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing- your body allows you to experience the beauty and richness of the world around you. Be grateful for the moments of joy it enables. Go ahead, repeat after me. I'm grateful because my body connects me to the present.

Second, I'm grateful because my body is a source of wisdom.

Midlife and beyond brings a deeper understanding of what your body needs. Whether it's rest, movement, or nourishment, be grateful for the intuition and awareness residing in your body. Say this one after me. I'm grateful because my body is a source of wisdom.

And the third affirmation, I'm grateful because my body enables me to love and connect. 

Whether hugging a loved one, dancing with friends, or simply being present for others, your body makes those meaningful connections possible. Be grateful for the ways it helps you share love and kindness.

Repeat after me. I'm grateful because my body enables me to love and connect.

I encourage you to use these affirmations as inspiration to create your own. If it makes it easier, start with the words, ’I'm grateful because my body…’, and then finish the affirmation with what feels good to you. You may surprise yourself with how many you think of!

Now here are three ways to appreciate your body that go beyond affirmations. 

First, treat your body like a trusted friend. Think about how you speak to your closest friend. You're probably kind, encouraging, and supportive. Try turning that same kindness inward.

When you notice the not-so-nice comments you make about your body, because we all do, pause and ask yourself if you'd say that to your best friend. If the answer is ‘no’, then choose words of appreciation for your body instead. Here's a few examples you might start with.

• Thank you legs for carrying me through so many adventures. 
• I appreciate how my body has grown and changed over the years. 
• Thank you body for all we've been through together. 

This practice builds a foundation of self-compassion and gratitude for all your body is rather than what it isn't.

Next, create a weekly body gratitude ritual. Set aside 5-10 minutes once a week to focus entirely on your body. You can do this during a movement session, while stretching, lying in bed before you wake up, or before you go to sleep. Use this time to scan your body from head to toe. As you do, notice areas of tension, discomfort, or strength.

As you move through this ritual, silently thank each part of your body for what it does for you. This weekly ritual can become a grounding practice that helps you feel more connected to and appreciative of your body. 

And lastly, celebrate what your body can do. Your body is changing, but it is still capable of so much.

Get in the habit of celebrating for a moment when you notice something your body does for you. Maybe it's walking your favorite trail, dancing to a great song, or something as simple as savoring your morning coffee. Say out loud to yourself, I'm grateful for my body. I get to enjoy this moment because of it.

Over time, these mini-celebrations help you focus on your body's abilities rather than its limitations. 

A feel-good practice of self-gratitude can make a big impact on your relationship with yourself. Your body has carried you through life's challenges, joys, and everything in between, my friend. It's worthy of gratitude for all it does to support, sustain, and connect you to the world around you. 

Thanks for listening. I'll be back next week with another episode to help you build a self-gratitude practice in midlife and beyond.

As always, I'm here cheering you on as you travel along your path. I love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so please reach out at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com. 

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, please share FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️ with other women in your life. Copy this link or tap share on your listening platform to send it to a friend, colleague, or sister.

It means so much to me when you do.

{MUSIC OUTRO}