Girls pouting and posing for a selfie. For whom?

Actor Miley Cyrus poses for a selfie.

In my practice as a psychologist, I see girls with eating disorders, body dysmorphia and other body image issues.

Sometimes they show me pics of their friends or other girls they think are PERFECT. 

Most, if not all of the pics I've seen are of girls  posing like this. Many of them post their pics on facebook. Their female friends respond with LIKES and comments such as 'you look hot.'

My question is: who is all this posing and pouting for?

The availability of so much visual media is making the body image trap more insidious for young women.

And men are being affected too, having procedures so they can look good on facebook or on their phones.

I am deeply saddened by these destructive trends. I hope they will pass, like the whirlwinds they are.   But how much damage will they leave in their wake?

What do you think?

Afterglow of MOTHER's RETREAT

What joy to re-unite with the wonderful women from the May Mother's retreat. And how exquisite to be honoured by them (WE LOVE DENISE) and to enjoy their honouring of each other.

It's one thing to take time out from one's life to retreat but it's profound when the benefits of that experience spill into life.

All the women from my May retreat continue to meet, support and lovingly care each other.

You can see how proud I am of them.

Love you all, for your courage, tenacity, generosity and warm abundance. BLESSINGS!

TIMING

I have grown to respect TIMING. Forcing things to happen may give a momentary feeling of success but when the TIMING is RIGHT the outcomes are solid, grounded and bountiful.

So imagine how sweet it was, on the last day of my women's retreat in ULURU to see that
LIVING NOW had just published this article. 

That's what I call Nice timing...  ENJOY




http://www.livingnow.com.au/advertise/articles/23-living-with-spirit/4869-the-picture-of-wholeness-and-happiness-doesnt-need-a-mirror.html

The woman I've become...

As I wait for the women to join me in Alice Springs before we travel out to ULURU on retreat, I reflect on the woman I have become:

"I am becoming the woman I've wanted,

grey at the temples,

soft body, delighted,

cracked up by life

with a laugh that's known bitter

but, past it, got better,

knows she's a survivor-

that whatever comes,

she can outlast it.

I am becoming a deep

weathered basket.

I am becoming the woman I've longed for,

the motherly lover

with arms strong and tender,

the growing daughter

who blushes surprises.

I am becoming full moons

and sunrises.

I find her becoming,

this woman I've wanted,

who knows she'll encompass,

who knows she's sufficient,

knows where she's going

and travels with passion.

Who remembers she's precious,

but knows she's not scarce-

who knows she is plenty,

plenty to share."

-Jayne Relaford Brown 

Roses and desert women

And so they met, the women who will be attending my Mother/daughter Desert Retreat at Uluru in May.

Chatting easily as women do, sharing dainty sweet treats and the joy of roses: pink blossoms for the child within, full blooms for the blossoming women.

First pic: Meringues filled with fresh cream and adorned by baby pink roses.

Second pic: French pastry filled with custard accompanied by an urn of earth coloured roses in full bloom.

Women are their own worse critics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XpaOjMXyJGk#!

The video above is a great example of how women perceive themselves compared to the way others see them.
In my consultations, husbands and partners of women always describe the women in a much more positive light than the women do themselves.
Women are in fact their own worse critics.
That's why I am a persistent campaigner against body image damage.
Why don't you join me at my image free website www.denisegreenaway.com  

Rainbow Food

Facebook viewers love this photo of  my Rainbow Food fruit platter.

There are many more ideas in my Rainbow Food book.

It's for kids but it can change the way you think about food too.

www.rainbowfood.com.au

You can order it through my site www.denisegreenaway.com

Beauty is destroyed by anorexia

Beauty destroyed by anorexia.



http://www.minds.com/blog/view/48335/the-most-anorexic-woman-in-the-world-or-skinniest-woman-in-the-world




In my book FINDING ARTEMISIA,  the young woman suffering with anorexia shares her world through her diary (The Oracle) and provides deep insights into anorexia. The book also provides her psychologist's point of view and her experience of working with the disease.

FINDING ARTEMISIA is currently DISCOUNTED at this site
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Finding-Artemisia-Denise-Greenaway/9781452503844