Here’s a mental exercise that has helped me. When I can’t escape hateful, mean thoughts about my body, I ask myself what I would do if I heard someone talking that way about a friend. I would speak up for my friend. I would defend her and boost her up. So if you have a day when you hate yourself and your body, try to think of yourself as a friend. Be kind to yourself, defend yourself, be your own friend. Even—especially—when you are confronting hard days.
