Helping girls develop positive body images-YW Manual 3 Lesson 38

I've got to admit that I'm not thrilled every year at the advent of bathing suit season and I'd rather spend the afternoon doing my taxes than shopping for jeans.  As women, we struggle with our relationship with our bodies. I felt very impressed that my girls needed a lesson to help them develop positive body images and so I am going to focus on the idea that our bodies are one of our greatest gifts from God.

How does the world see our bodies? Something to despise for its imperfections, a mortal prison, something to flaunt and to use?

I want to contrast that to how the Lord sees our bodies?

-We were created in God’s image (Gen 1:26)

-If bodies were not important, then Jesus Christ would not have been resurrected as a being with a tangible body.

-Our bodies our temples (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

The following talks on the sanctity of our bodies are both excellent.

-Jeffrey R. Holland  http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/to-young-women?lang=eng

 “You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power. … The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self—[the real you.]” 
-Susan W. Tanner http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/the-sanctity-of-the-body?lang=eng
(I love when she quoted her mother, "“You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others.” Mother's wisdom at it's best)

Now that we've established that our bodies are a sacred gift, how should we take care of them?

1. Eat Healthy

I think this is a great time to talk about eating disorders.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=91fbc1de5cfeb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

2. Avoid addictive substances

3.  Avoid dangerous behaviors

Since traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, this is a great time to discuss the dangers involved w/ driving.(http://www.rmiia.org/auto/teens/Teen_Driving_Statistics.asp)

4. Dress Modestly

5. Stay morally clean

6. Have healthy sleep habits

7. Exercise regularly

8. Stay mentally healthy and be aware of signs of depression

Here's a great article

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=257042629f5fb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

9. Don't do anything to mutilate your body.
I think it's important to talk about cutting. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/help_cutting.html


This is a lot of information for 30 minutes, so I'm just going to kind of treat is as a discussion and see where we go.

I wanted the handout to look like a present, and when you open it there's the outline of a body.  I used wrapping paper, because I thought it would be fun. PDF for handout (Scroll down the second page-for some reason the 1st page is blank)