10 Day Beauty Challenge

For those of you sisters who were not at the RS activity on Wednesday night, here is the 

10 Day Beauty Challenge!

Day One

THE CHALLENGE: GET STARTED

Today, start your journal for the challenge. Write for at least ten minutes and express gratitude for all the things your body allows you to do. Continue to write for at least 10 minutes each day through the challenge. Refrain from weighing yourself today. In fact, refrain from weighing yourself during the 10 days of the challenge.

WHY: Recording your thoughts helps you process your feelings. You will be surprised what surfaces when you give time and voice to your thoughts. When we focus on weight, the number never seems to be the right one. We don’t have to subject ourselves to that grief—weight is not always an accurate measure of health or body fat, and we would do well to eliminate the obsession of weighing ourselves altogether.

Day Two

THE CHALLENGE: GOD’S DEFINITION OF BEAUTY

Study what beauty is from a gospel perspective. Start by reading “True Beauty” by Lynn G. Roberts (see lds.org) and 1 Samuel 16:7 and 1 Corinthians 3:16.

WHY: God is our Heavenly Father, and He knows us better than anyone--He created us! He knows most intimitately how beautiful we are, and He will tell us if we seek Him. A relationship with Heavenly Father is essential if we are to truly understand beauty and our worth.

Journal: From your study, how do you think Heavenly Father defines beauty? Why might this be hard to internalize and believe?

Day Three

THE CHALLENGE: 10 POSITIVE THINGS

Make a list of 10 positive things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with your appearance--and 10 positive things you like about your appearance.

WHY: Your perception of yourself includes the physical. We won’t pretend it’s not important--physical factors are part of the mortal world we live in. We’ve challenged you to make two lists because both your inner and outer beauty affect you--and there will be times you feel insecure about both. Refer back to your lists and remember the positive.

Journal: Was it easier to come up with things you like about yourself or things about your appearance?

Day Four

THE CHALLENGE: GET READY ON THE INSIDE

How much time do you spend getting ready each day? Today, use that same amount of time to get ready on the inside. Meditate, write in your journal, or perform an act of service.

WHY: Women spend thousands of hours on their appearances over a lifetime. Think about what you could accomplish if you spent the same amount of time each day preparing your inner self. How would you be different? How would each day be different?

Journal: Did you notice a difference in how you felt throughout the day? Explore why or why not.

Day Five

THE CHALLENGE: EXERCISE FOR FUN

Exercise for fun—choose a form of exercise that you enjoy, a form you wouldn’t normally choose because it calls attention to your body.

WHY: Exercise is necessary for health, but we have turned it into a duty, obligation and punishment--something we do to “make up” for the food we eat. Women are bombarded with media messages that tell us we can’t run, swim, do yoga, or any number of things unless we have the “perfect” body. We must stop waiting to achieve perfection and live our lives to the fullest—taking risks, trying new things, and utilizing the unlimited potential of our bodies.

Journal: How did your body feel during and after your exercise? Reflect on the blessing of being able to move.       


Day Six

THE CHALLENGE: NO FAT TALK

Refrain from talk about weight or shape of self and others. Be aware of how often you compare yourself to others, and evaluate how this makes you feel.

WHY: The obsession with weight, shape and appearance continues among women partially because we encourage it in each other. We have made it unacceptable for a woman to be at peace with her body. Refraining from speaking about weight and shape—positively or negatively--allows us to focus on a person’s real value and worth.

Journal: How difficult was it to avoid fat talk?

Day Seven

THE CHALLENGE: TUNE OUT THE MEDIA

Tune out media – no TV, movies, magazines or internet surfing. Instead tune in to nature. Notice a sunset, gaze at the stars, sit by a stream and listen to the water.

WHY: The media constantly barrages us with unrealistic and unhealthy ideals of beauty. Because we are incessantly bombarded, it is impossible to remain unaffected. Get in touch with who you are independent of these messages and find your center in things that are real and lasting--your personality, nature, and your relationships.

Journal: What did you tune into when you tuned out the media?

Day Eight

THE CHALLENGE: SELF-TALK

Pay attention to your thoughts today. Ask yourself, How do my thoughts make me feel? Is what I’m thinking really true? Practice challenging your negative thoughts and replacing them with more truthful ones.

WHY: Our thoughts determine how we feel and act. If we talked to others the way we talk to ourselves, we would be ashamed.The beauty of being human is that we can control our thoughts. Start by recognizing your thoughts, challenging them, and replacing them.

Journal: What was your experience today? Write for at least 10 minutes.

Day Nine

THE CHALLENGE: BODY KINDNESS

Be kind to your body today. Take a nap, go for a walk, enroll in a yoga class, get a massage, take a bubble bath, get a pedicure or manicure, or cook yourself a delicious meal.

WHY: We have been trained to hate our bodies. We pluck, tweeze, shape, mold, sculpt, and otherwise try to change our appearances. Your body is the vehicle that will carry you to your dreams--treat it with kindness and love. We must cherish our bodies as God-given gifts.

Journal: What did you do for your body today? How did it make your body feel?

Day Ten

THE CHALLENGE: COMMIT

Commit to yourself that you will try your very best to be more grateful and appreciative of your body. Learn to love yourself for all that you are. Live your life to the fullest and enjoy each day that you are blessed with.

And always remember…

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!