The environment we grow up in has an impact on our developing beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. Therefore, the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of those close to us have a large effect on us.
We may think that something we believe, perhaps even a core belief, was born from a thought we came up with. In this article I’m going to discuss a few different ways that our loved ones help us form our opinions and beliefs.
Watching tv
On a casual home night together with your family, what activities do you do? Watching Netflix or Hulu together can be a common pastime for many families. What kinds of shows do you watch together? Who comes to that decision? Do you decide together?
When various actors and actresses come across the screen, what types of conversations come up about their looks, body type, and style? What comes up here may sound familiar. Often what we see and feel compelled to share about on screen can reflect the inner dialogue we have about ourselves.
If we’re more accepting and inclusive with others that don’t look like us, we’re often more accepting with ourselves. Take note over the next couple weeks and decide how YOU want to be, and what thoughts you want to take part in in your own mind and heart. You get to decide how you feel about all this.
Social Media
Does your family use social media? What kinds of stories, posts, and videos do they watch? In the social media world, we take in a lot of information. We also have the ability to create our social media worlds by muting, unfollowing, or blocking content we don’t want to see. What do you find yourself wanting to watch and listen to? Who do you want to get updates about? Does it “mirror” what your loved ones, parents, friends want to see? How does it make you feel when you see it?
Self Talk
When your loved ones are getting ready for the day running errands, an event, or a casual day at home, how do they talk about themselves? What do they say out loud to you about their bodies? Hearing their thoughts helps us understand the world we spend the most time in.
Friends
What are your friends into? How do they talk about their bodies? We spend a lot of time with our close friends. If we start noticing the conversations we have about others and about ourselves we will get a clue of where we want to make change, if any.
We are complex people. All of us individually. Remembering ultimately that we get to decide how we talk, feel, and think about our bodies is a powerful tool for healing and the choices we will make for ourselves day in and day out.
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Kristen Donia is a freelance writer living in a tiny house she built in sunny Southern Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has dedicated her life to studying and writing about empathy, vulnerability and enriching the human experience.