Welcome to Episode 15 of The Tortoise, the podcast (plodcast!) that digs deep into the possibilities of slow.
You can listen to the podcast right here, or if you’d prefer, subscribe via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite pod-dealing platform.
If you’re new to The Tortoise — Welcome! Thank you for coming over! — you can sign up to the newsletter below to make sure you don’t miss an episode of the pod, and you’ll also receive a slow-living letter in your inbox every Thursday-ish.
The Topic: Body image
Towards the end of today’s episode, I say something like, “I usually get a vulnerability hangover after we’ve finished recording but I’ve got one already!”
And it’s true. Ben and I both felt quite nervous about this one. Maybe because it cuts to the core of some personal topics, or maybe because everyone has their own experience of body image — the way it shapes our thoughts, actions and beliefs. Probably a mix of both. (Also because: is “hot rodent boyfriend” a good place to start any conversation?)
Rightly or wrongly, how we view ourselves affects our choices, our self-worth and our behaviours. And while I came into this topic worried that it would seem vapid and shallow, I came to the opposite conclusion. It’s worthy of exploration and conversation because the impact of our self-image is so far-reaching.
As always, we try to view the topic through the lens of slowness and I share how my understanding of body image has shifted significantly over the years, in part due to life — age, experience, parenting and personal growth — and in part due to slow living.
It’s taught me how to observe, how to appreciate and how to question the multiple inputs into our lives. It’s taught me how to recognise my thoughts and accept that they aren’t always true. It’s also taught me to see how the tentacles of capitalism reach out into virtually every aspect of life, unsettling us, making us dissatisfied, in order to offer us the “solution”.
Ben and I also talk about:
the ridiculous “hot rodent boyfriend” moment that kicked off this whole conversation
our different experiences of negative body image growing up
how body and beauty trends keep us feeling wrong in our bodies
why the resurgence of “skinny” might be in direct response to body positivity
why body neutrality might be a healthier place to aim for when it comes to our body image
the importance of body appreciation and gratitude for all the things it does for us is vital to our well-being
the insidious shift trying to erase the gains of body positive and body neutral spaces
how growing up in the 90s “waif era” messed with my body image
how age has brought me a certain amount of pride and peace with my body and all she’s done
why people are still commenting on each others’ bodies at all
It’s a delicate thing to talk about because I know my experiences will not relate to everyone listening. Despite that, I think it’s important, and I’d love to know if you have observed changes in yourself or those around you when it comes to body image? Has your exploration of slowness impacted it at all? Do you feel like age and experience are changing your perception? Or like me, are you slowly disengaging from a lot of the negativity?
The Links
Below is a list of links discussed in today’s episode. If I’ve forgotten any, please let me know in the comments:
Pass notes: The hot rodent boyfriend — The Guardian
Hot rodent men — news.com.au
Body Dissatisfaction, Importance of Appearance, and Body Appreciation in Men and Women Over the Lifespan — Frontiers in Psychiatry
Sarah Nicole Landry — Instagram
What is body appreciation and how can you cultivate it? — Greater Good Berkeley
Body appreciation predicts better mental health and wellbeing — Body Image
Subscribe to the podcast in your favourite app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc)
Thanks so much for listening. Next month we’ll be talking about the myth of balance, and may have a video version of the pod ready. (Also maybe not though. No promises.)
Until next time, look after your wonderful self.
Brooke 💚💚
Body image: Episode 15