We’ve been brave enough to talk about our inner critics, our financial fears, and our love lives. Now, we’re calling a truce on the constant war we wage against ourselves.

Today, we’re diving into the relationship we have with our bodies.

We are conditioned by media, culture, and often our own inner voices to view our bodies as projects to be fixed, perfected, or controlled. This leads to a constant state of self-criticism and exhaustion. Think about the sheer amount of energy you spend every day worrying about what you ate, what you look like, or what size you are. That energy drain is a war you didn't sign up for, and it's a war you can't win.

Our bodies are not ornaments; they are our vehicles for life. They carry us through grief, through success, through the messy middle, and through every single moment of our existence. Yet, we treat them like the enemy, constantly scrutinizing every curve, every wrinkle, every perceived flaw.

The truth is, self-acceptance is not giving up; it's choosing peace. It's the radical act of saying, "I am enough, right now, exactly as I am." The first step to peace is acknowledging the constant battle and choosing to lay down the weapons of self-criticism.

Bestie, this is the part where I confess I was my own worst enemy. I’m sharing a story about the moment I realized I had spent more time fighting my body than loving it, and the day I finally signed a peace treaty.

In 2017, I lived in San Diego with roommates and worked at Sprint. I was fresh out of college and a friend helped me to land a sales job, where I thrived and met new people. Although I was in a new environment my habits didn’t change. I was eating Mexican about every single day for lunch then going home to unwind and then pig out on junk food.

It wasn’t till I was challenged financially that I started to really change, unintentionally. I was skipping meals because I couldn’t afford it. I was eating oatmeal when I was absolutely hungry because that was cheap. The reason why my finances were so scarce was because I was investing into the wrong parts of me. I was investing more money into the unhealthy parts of me, which made me straight up broke.

I lost a lot of weight. My face started to thin out and my body suddenly felt like it didn’t belong to me. I had been the bigger girl my entire life. So, being someone who wasn’t fat anymore was uncomfortable.

I didn’t like that people treated me differently because I looked better in their eyes. I didn’t like that I was being invited out by friends who never wanted me around. I hated these feelings. I couldn’t decipher between the fake and real anymore.

So, what's the moral of the story, sis? Your body is not a trend. It's your home.

The ultimate act of self-care is signing a peace treaty with the one thing you can never leave. Your story shows us that a physical change, even a positive one, doesn't solve the internal problem of self-worth. The real fight is learning to love the body you have, regardless of who is watching or what size the tag says.

Here are the unwritten rules for moving from seeking external validation to finding internal peace:

Now that we’ve had this heart-to-heart, I have a little piece of homework for you.

Perform one intentional act of kindness toward your body this week. Buy one piece of clothing that fits perfectly right now and makes you feel amazing. Or, spend 10 minutes thanking your body for something specific it does for you (e.g., "Thank you, hands, for helping me build my business").

Go be brave, bestie. Your body deserves your kindness, regardless of its size.

Until then, stay strong and stylish.