Monday, July 28, 2008
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How To Look Good Naked: God's Message of Love to Me
I don't usually watch a lot of Reality TV, but lately I've been getting into "How To Look Good Naked" hosted by Carson Kressly (of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" fame).The reason I like it so much is that it's very different from the typical makeover show (I love those too). It's about more than makeup and clothes, and they certainly never talk about extreme changes likes plastic surgery or even dieting. The show is all about changing perceptions.
The general format of each episode is that Carson helps guide one woman from hating her body to absolutely loving it. The women are usually mothers, wives, and career women all in one; ladies who have personality and character, but overwhelmingly low self-esteem from the changes their bodies have gone through over the years. Carson's (and the show's) entire message is that each woman is unique, gifted, and beautiful, no matter what shape, size, age or color. The women have varied from large and curvy to short and petite. Sure, some of them could benefit (health-wise) from some guided weight-loss, but the point is to change the mindset first and get them to stop obsessing over their imperfections.
No matter what the woman looks like, Carson always points out the good things about her body and personality. He then challenges the woman with certain tasks and gives practical shopping advice to eventually change her perception of her body. He never tells her to fix anything except her own negative thoughts about herself. By the end of the show, she is flaunting her body and newfound confidence!
And can I tell you just how BLESSED I've been by this show? I know on the surface it just looks like another makeover show hosted by a gay man (that seems to be a winning formula these days), but honestly I feel like God has encouraged me so much through it. I never thought the God of the universe would speak his message of unconditional love and total acceptance of me through a flamboyant, checkered-pant wearing, Dolce & Gabbana loving gay man, but he has! I feel like everything Carson has said on the show is something that God could've said to me himself - that I am beautiful and gifted and no one has my life but me.
Sisters, how many times have we just been so down on ourselves about the way we look? Meanwhile our God who made us and designed us loves us just as we are - whether we have cellulite or not.
Check out the show on Lifetime (in the US) if you're interested. The real point here is that we need to change our perception about ourselves. God will never judge us for how we look, so why should we?
(Hey and if you have no idea what I'm talking about because you love your body, then more power to ya!)
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Comments (24)
*sigh*
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
I think the message of acceptance is a think we all could use!!!
Well it's about bloody time someone didn't suggest change for something that's perfect.
I really enjoy watching this show too! I love how Carson makes the women feel good about themselves and their "imperfections." I definitely can understand how God's message of love and hope can be applied here. Which also makes me giggle a lil, thinking about who it's coming from. keke =P
Omg you shouldn't watch shows with gay people in them.
{{ Kidding. }}
Sadly enough though...I predict that some of the ensuing comments will say something along those lines. >_<
I think that sounds perfect, sadly, this gay guy has more of a grasp on the Father's heart for of acceptaing us than does most of the church. Jesus said that we are to love each other as we do ourselves...but most of the time we really loathe ourselves and can't stand being around us. No wonder we're so quick to judge other people, because we spend 18+ hours a day judging ourselves, and we're really good at it.
The reason we judge ourselves, because we have not experientially connected with Father God who loves us and we have not received His love. Yes, I can believe that He loves me, but until it's an experience it's not redeemed yet. Until I exercise it by faith, as a muscle, then the experience doesn't become real to me.
If I receive God's love for me
I can love myself
I can love others
If I'm in a place where I'm not naturally inclined to love others or myself, then I'm not really receiving His love for me.
@SwordAndSacrifice@xanga - Hahahahaha. I hope so too. But until then... gotta do our best!
@adventure_coach@xanga - Amen. He said, "love your God with all your heart"...then he said "love your neighbors as thyself." if we can't love ourselves, how can we treat others with the kind of nurturing love that we would typically give ourselves--the kind of love that people seek? and likewise... if we reject God's love for us, with what power can we love anyone in the first place?
Interesting post :)
I like the idea of this show but it bugs me some gay guy telling those women how perfect they are be better if it was another woman telling them or just a normal guy. Judi
I don't have television, but if I did I would enjoy this show.
I have had a lot of problems with my body image and self-esteem. I know God has used my beloved husband to encourage me and help me embrace how I look. I can see how this show would do the same thing for other women, especially in a culture so saturated with unhealthy expectations for women's bodies.
I've never watched the show, but I adored the concept of it from the first time I heard of it. I've always been of the opinion that if you can love yourself naked, you can love yourself no matter what, and that's just about the most wonderful feeling in the world. It distracts from the things you don't have to work on and makes you focus on the stuff that you do.
It's good to feel beautiful, and I've been blessed with that confidence in myself (but believe me, it took a while X_X)
I keep thinking to watch that show but I'm not much of a TV watcher. I'll definitely have to check it out now!
I find it highly ironic that while reading this, the ad to the left was on dieting pills. Also, my sister and I just got done discussing whether or not someone we know is anorexic (something I used to be myself). It's a sad, sad world we live in.
I still struggle with self esteem. And now.. I work at a clothing store. I don't think there is any other place that makes one feel more inferior and fat. I put the double zero jeans back to where they're supposed to go and think to myself "Why can't I be thin enough to fit into these things?", without realizing that doesn't make someone beautiful at all. We're so wrapped up in what society thinks is beauty - which is nothing much but skin and bones. But face it, we're all not meant to look like one of the Olsens (who don't look natural anyway).
Sigh. I pray every day that some day in the near (please let it be VERY near!) future we won't have to worry about what size jean we are. Who cares if I don't have much boobage going on? Who cares that I have a "ghetto" booty to match? Unfortunately... I care.
And girls, please keep in mind that many of the photos you see of celebrities (if not ALL of the photos) are completely airbrushed. Everyone has imperfections that make everyone so perfect. If only we could all believe it.
Peace&love,
Brooke.
@organic_idiot@xanga - lol... i also noticed the dieting ad on the left. :) frankly, while reading this post was one of the few times i wasn't tempted to click on one of those. :)
i really have enjoyed this show the few times i've watched it. it definitely encouraged me and pointed out the mindgames we play with ourselves over this issue. thanks for the post!
@ChildofGod86@xanga - I don't think the show is making people prideful and vain. It's a show about women with EXTREMELY low self-esteem who are being encouraged to not hate their bodies.
These ladies were not prideful or vain to begin with. They were probably a lot like me--I certainly don't think I'm better than anyone else. I have very low self-esteem and a very poor body image. I don't like hardly anything about myself.
It's not good to be vain or prideful but it's certainly not good to hate yourself either! Doesn't the Bible say that our bodies are a temple? A temple is a pretty exquisite thing! Doesn't the Bible also say that we were created in God's image? Wow. That's pretty amazing.
The Bible says Jesus loves us, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want his children to hate themselves or cut themselves or starve themselves into eating disorders because they hate the way they look...
Jesus hurts for people who dislike themselves and are in pain, and I think shows that boost LOW self-esteem to DECENT self-esteem and "Hey...maybe I shouldn't hate myself after all..." are doing a lot of good.
@organic_idiot@xanga - Amazing comment. Thank you. I wish the modern media would stop telling people they need to look a certain way. It only causes pain and self-hatred.
I'm glad you're in recovery from anorexia. I have been since 2007. It's a horrific disease and it nearly destroyed my body and my life. Recovering from something like that takes a lot of courage, so kudos to you!
@ChildofGod86@xanga - I think if you want to watch shows that show people's depravity and sinfulness, you should be watching Jerry Springer or Dr. Phil or Montel or Maury...plenty of sin going on there. Great garbage programming, isn't it? Make everyone feel worse about themselves - that's the way to win people's hearts.
I haven't yet watched this show about body image, but I've seen the commercials for it. It looks to be more about affirmation and acceptance of What Is, not about puffing up pride and vanity. So many women feel un-beautiful, un-loved, un-worthy, because of what the world, including other Christians, tell us. Bless that gay man for showing the love and acceptance that Jesus would show if he were here on earth to do so right now. How did Jesus treat the woman at the well, even though she was a sinner? How did Jesus treat the woman who was being stoned, the woman who committed adultery? He acknowledged their sin, but did he say they should continue to go around feeling their depravity and hopelessness? Of course not - he offered them hope, living water, forgiveness, new life. How ironic, for the Christian community, that a gay man should be modeling the love and acceptance of Christ to women on national TV. Horrors! How sad that most Christians don't.
We used to have this show in the UK, with a guy called Gok Wan- he is a sweet and adorable guy, and guess what, he is also a gay stylist (At this point, why are nearly all male stylists gay? LOL). Anyways, I used to like this programme, because it was great to see how women's perception changes and confidence grows the moment they accept and start to love their bodies.
I think God loves us just the way we are, however, bcos our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should look after our bodies as best as we can, I am not saying everybody should do a lot of sports at all costs, or have a perfect body mass index, but we should make the effort to be our best selves. I think the way we dress should also be a way to honour God, but I don't think there are any written rules for how exactly you should dress to please God, i guess we can know it in our hearts what is appropriate and what is not.
@Timi_in_England@xanga - I like Gok's fashion challenge show at the moment, that is pretty cool and saves so many pounds!
********************************
As a mother of 5, my body has pretty well seen it all. Thankfully I have a husband who loves me, despite it's many seasons.
I have wished I was as loving about myself as he has been.
I am pleased the Lord blessed you through this. May he continue to lead you on in this area, and wrap you up and let you know how precious you are to him.
x
I have never personally seen the show (I'm a student without tons of time to watch television) but I absolutely love the concept. I agree that it is so imparative that we change our perceptions of ourselves to a healthy appreciation of what God has given us, while still recognizing the changes that we should perhaps make for health reasons.
Our bodies are the Lord's temple; we should love it and care for it (although this is something that can be at times).
@Losers_Advocate@xanga - I agree completely. God is currently working on me and my perceptions of others. I hadn't thought that He might be also working on my perception of myself. An old demon in my memory often tries to tell me I'll only end up being and old fat mexican as I grow older. So that's how I see myself many times. Amazing how He works in our lives through the smallest things... even TV shows!
@musicmom60@xanga - AMEN to that! I loved your examples of the actions Christ took to show his love for humanity.
And also the examples of shows to watch to really make ya wanna vomit... lol
(as always) Peace&love,
Brooke
I watch this show so I can use Carson's strategies to help other people I know. It's so nice to see women feel awesome about themselves without changing anything.
I don't have a TV, but it sounds like this is one show that would make it worth having!
@musicmom60@xanga - Okay, maybe I didn't really put any thought to my comment. I meant... I don't exactly know what I meant when I said what I did. I guess I just wanted to say that there is too much focus placed on self-esteem than should be at times and this show in my opinion seems to glorify personal appearance. Caveat to this is that I have never seen the show so a lot of this is based solely on my perception of how the show is based on others comments and ads for the show.
I didn't mean to offend anyone in my comments.
@bittersunday@xanga - you're probably right, and I'm sorry I didn't put any thought to my comment. I should have kept my mouth shut since I haven't even seen the show to begin with.
That said, I do think there is too much emphasis placed on self-esteem in this culture, so much so that there IS an apparent need for a show like this.
Sorry if my grammar isn't perfect.