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In today's episode, we have Laura Lindahl, owner of True Strength Collective,  back on the podcast.

We discuss:

• Body transitions: Laura discusses the societal pressure to "get your body back" and the lack of contentment with one's current body.
• Various stages of body transitions: puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, aging, menopause, and their impact on body image and self-perception.
• Internal struggle with body image: Laura emphasizes the importance of understanding God's perspective on our bodies and embracing them at every stage.
• Challenges faced during transitions: feeling inadequate, self-defeating thoughts, and societal pressures to bounce back.
• The role of the enemy: Laura discusses how Satan benefits from triggering insecurities and self-doubt during body transitions.
• Wrestling with body image and faith: Laura shares personal experiences and struggles, highlighting the importance of aligning core values with God's perspective.
• Addressing idolatry and self-focus: Laura explains how to gently guide clients to recognize and challenge idolatrous thoughts about body image.
• Practical steps for Christian women: Laura suggests taking thought inventories, aligning core values with God's perspective, and embracing peace with one's body in all seasons.

Takeaways:

• Reflect on personal thought patterns regarding body image and transition stages.
• Journal daily thoughts to identify areas of self-focus and potential idolatry.
• Align core values with God's perspective on body image and self-worth.
• Embrace peace with one's body in all seasons, recognizing it as fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
• Seek support and guidance from mentors or coaches to navigate body image struggles and transitions with faith and grace.
• Laura emphasizes the importance of establishing a foundation of grace, understanding that mistakes are justified by God's grace.
• Utilizing thought journals: Encouraging clients to write down their thoughts, even if they feel selfish or ashamed, to begin the process of uncovering and challenging negative beliefs.
• Naming and challenging negative thoughts: Laura recommends identifying and labeling negative thoughts, questioning their truthfulness and helpfulness, and neutralizing them by assigning them a name.
• Rewriting thoughts with truth: Clients are encouraged to replace negative thoughts with biblical truths, reframing self-doubt or judgment with affirmations grounded in scripture.

• Laura highlights the common experience of body dysmorphia, emphasizing the importance of naming and addressing this struggle openly.

4 Practical Steps: 

1. Capture the body image thoughts - say it out loud and write it down
2. Name the thought - call it exactly what it is 
3. Re-write that lie with truth of scripture
4. Speak new truth over yourself as often as needed

Connect with Laura:

• Instagram: @laurarealstrength
• Podcast: Her True Strength
• Website: True Strength Collective
• Download the "Stronger Body, Bolder Faith" workbook from Laura's website for practical tools and insights on body image and faith.

Note: Laura provides practical steps and encouragement for women seeking freedom in body image struggles, emphasizing the importance of grace, awareness, and resilience. She offers support and accessible resources to empower women on their journey towards self-acceptance and body confidence.