“My Body, My Avatar”
Avatar: 1. An icon or figure representing a particular person.2. A manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form; an incarnate divine teacher.Okay, let's be honest. Most of us - even men, can you believe it? - have things about ourselves, our bodies, we don't like. The lists are long. I'm no exception; I've always had a perfectionistic tendency. No, that's not quite accurate. Tendency, my ass! It's a big wide large streak. My body, my image are definitely part of my perfectionism. The challenge with that notion is, aging does not fit into that perfect paradigm.This country, perhaps even the world, has body image issues. We largely compare ourselves with others; our faces aren't pretty enough, rugged and handsome enough, young enough, our asses too big, our boobs too small, our penises average, our heads bald, our skin wrinkled, acned or old. And now we live in a world where fat and unhealthy are the new normal. It's enough to make us crazy.In truth this is nothing new to human behavior. We have always valued and venerated men's valor and sinewy hard bodies, as they've been the protectors and providers, and honored women's gentle beauty and foundational strength for bringing love into our hearts and lives. Cleopatra was known not only for her high intelligence and intellectual canniness, she also was a purveyor of beauty with her many oils and unguents used for her face and body. Today, with the advent of the Internet and beautiful images projected on us daily, it's easier for us to slide down the rabbit hole of self-destructive comparisons and self image issues.What if we were to change our concepts and beliefs and reframe how we see and work with our bodies? Visualize our body and our soul as a living working organism of oneness yet separate? What if we were to recognize our eternal sense of beingness, our soul, enters into a bodily construct of its own amazingly brilliant computerized network of cells and systems and electrical currents all working in tandem to form a living harmonious complex for us to reside in? One we created cosmically through our artistic genius to fit our particular needs and story. It becomes us yet is separate. It's its own living being of fractals and elements that form our own solar system. Our very own playground in which to interact. Our very own special Avatar. An Avatar to love.
What if we were to start having conversations with our Avatar daily, starting with how much we love each and every living cell in our planetary system? What if, instead of the constant, negative, fearful diatribe our background voice is playing, we delete that program and channel our gratitude to this magnificent biological abundance we are fortunate to dance with? Remember in the scheme of things, we are here for only a few short decades. What if by recognizing this brilliant gift we have been given, our bodies become healthy, stronger, more beautiful? What if honoring our Avatar with gratitude we live into our elder decades joyfully and with strength and vitality - beauty too? What if by starting this communication everything in our worlds radically change?We can then extrapolate and expand on the Hindu definition of an Avatar; an incarnate divine teacher. Our bodies can be our divine teachers of awareness. Pain is a teacher. Misalignment is a teacher. Dis-ease is a teacher. Depression and anxiety are teachers. The list is endless. If we are not 100% healthy, as our body's Avatar strives daily to be healthy, it is our Avatar's divine directive to teach us what is emotionally, mentally and physically off kilter, off center, and disconnected from our eternal fuel source. We only need to listen, be aware and connect the dots. There is always a cosmic map.
Think about it. Try it. Do it. You can even name your Avatar, so you can recognize the singularity and the separation, much like the larger cosmic paradox of the universe. There's so much to be gained. When the last farewell arrives you'll be able to say in deep appreciation "Thanks much for this great adventure you've provided." For this is the only time when this Avatar and you will be connected. It truly is a gift.Cosmic sunshine to you.candiasanders.com