“Learning to love my body the way it is is challenging but life changing.”
New Year’s resolutions seem to frequently revolve around working out, eating right, and generally changing your body in some way. That’s why it’s refreshing that Demi Lovato has set a goal that has nothing to do with changing: The 25-year-old singer posted an inspiring photo on Instagram with a message about self-acceptance and the challenges of coming to terms with your body while in recovery from an eating disorder.
“So, I’m insecure about my legs in this picture but I’m posting it because I look so happy and this year I’ve decided I’m letting go of my perfectionism and embracing freedom from self criticism,” she wrote in the Instagram caption. “Learning to love my body the way it is is challenging but life changing. Giving up my eating disorder has been the most challenging journey of my life but I work every day towards solid recovery even if I mess up sometimes. Today I’m feeling strong. You all can do it too. It IS possible. Thank you God for this new chapter in my life. #EDrecovery #happyAF.”
As SELF previously reported, recovering from an eating disorder isn’t easy or immediate. It often requires unlearning disordered thought and behavior patterns as well as rebuilding a healthy, balanced relationship with food and your body. As Lovato points out in her post, that requires work every single day—but it’s not impossible. And just because you might “mess up sometimes,” that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
That’s why it’s so encouraging that Lovato has been open with her fans about the ups and downs of her journey over the years as she manages her bipolar disorder, drug and alcohol addictions, and eating disorder. In her documentary, Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated, which aired on YouTube in October 2016, the singer touched on many intimate aspects of her life, including her experience with own body image.
“I’m on a journey to discover what it’s like to be free of all demons,” she said in the documentary. “When I’m comfortable in my own skin, I feel confident. When I feel confident, I feel sexy. When I feel sexy, watch out!”