Open House Tomorrow!

Question: How often can you get your nails and hair done for free, eat yummy brownies, meet amazing women on campus, AND learn about what BYU Women's Services and Resources offers you—all in one place and at one time?

Answer: Once a year at the WSR Open House!

Tomorrow (September 18), from 11 am to 1 pm, drop by 3211 WSC to receive the pampering you deserve!

Bring your friends or just yourself. Can't wait to see you there!

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Bloggers, Come Forth!

We want EVERYONE to be happier, encouraged, wiser, changed-for-the-better, all of that. And WE BELIEVE THERE IS A BLOGGER OUT THERE WHO CAN IMPART JUST THE RIGHT WISDOM TO CREATE THESE CHANGES FOR OUR BLOG READERS!
Let us know WHO YOU ARE and we'll CONNECT  for a MARVELOUS MATCH!!!!

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Recapturing Beauty Music Video Shoot

Thank you to everyone who came out and danced with us last month, especially Sister Elaine S. Dalton, BYU Vocal Point, and Stacey Harkey from Studio C. We can't wait to show you our Recapturing Beauty music video!

Check out our Facebook page for even more pictures!

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It's Not About Freckles: Seeing our Whole Selves

Growing up, I hated my freckles. I thought they were abnormal and unattractive. I hated that people always commented on them. "Oh, look at those freckles!" "Wow, so many freckles!" My feelings about my freckles were a sneak-preview of the insecurities that crept into my life as I entered adolescence. And it didn't start or end with freckles, either. I felt that way about other parts of my body, too. Without even realizing it, I stepped onto a slippery slope of negative self-image. Eventually, when I would look in the mirror, I would be disgusted by what I saw.

As a teenager, I didn't realize my negative body image was about more than just my looks. It was about my fear of being noticed, of being the subject of comments or criticism. I don't know exactly where the feeling started, but I felt like I wasn't good enough. I hated my freckles (and most other parts of my body) because they were a physical manifestation of me, and I did not like myself. Gradually, those feelings of disgust toward my body and myself as a person turned into harmful behaviors that developed into an eating disorder.

The message of my eating disorder at its worst was often,  “If you lose weight, you'll be beautiful. People will love you when you are thin.  Nothing will be able to make you feel inadequate if you are thin. Thin is all you need to be to be happy. And if you don't lose weight—if you stay the way you are, you will never be good enough.” In the worst years of my eating disorder, I completely, 100% submitted to those lies. I started to define myself by those lies, and for a long time I got totally lost in them.

Unfortunately, stories like mine aren't uncommon. In a society that constantly sends false messages about the definitions of beauty and self-worth, it's no wonder that eating disorders, negative body image, and unhealthy relationships with food and exercise are on the rise. The media, the corporate world, and the entertainment industry would have us all believe that how we look defines who we are and what we are worth. That message is enough to make anyone anxious.

Appearances can be distracting. That's why we focus on them--because it's easier to obsess over something physical than to analyze issues that could be emotional, mental or spiritual. But superficial solutions for repairing feelings of insecurity never get us far. Neither does abusing food or exercise, or staring in the mirror and yearning to see something different. Hating my freckles didn't get me anywhere, but challenging the belief that my freckles were ugly and I was therefore unlovable--that got me somewhere. Healing and change have come from really looking at myself--my whole self, not just my physical self--and challenging the damaging beliefs I harbored in the past.

Photo by Brooke Schultz

Here's a secret: Today, I love my freckles. It's true!  And I've come a long way in combating my eating disorder and living a healthier, happier life outside the grasp of addictive behaviors. These changes have happened through a lot of work and a lot of help, including help from BYUWSR's group Fed Up With Food.

Recapturing beauty has nothing to do with changing our physical selves, and everything to do with seeing our whole selves. Seeing the whole picture—that we are more than our looks alone—requires personal effort and a lot of support. That support is available from Heavenly Father; from friends, family and organizations that inspire a clear vision of wellness and beauty; and even our own insights into who we really are. These are the sources to which women and men should be encouraged to turn in order to discover beauty, and not to any source that would tell them they need to manipulate themselves physically to be beautiful.

It's not about freckles, and it's not about how thin, tall, toned, or tanned we are either. It's about finding an identity formed from all parts of who we are as children of God. That's something we can all achieve, should we choose to make it our goal.

But how do we do it?  How do we start seeing our whole selves?  A few suggestions to get started:

• Find and write down things you like about yourself that do not have to do with your body or appearance.
• Give sincere compliments to others that are based on something other than their looks, clothing, or accessories.
• Find and develop talents and hobbies that will add meaning to your life.  
• Seek help from others who have made progress in this area.
• Study the scriptures and words of modern prophets to learn more about how Heavenly Father sees His children, and about how the Savior feels about us.
• Give service to those in need and start seeing beyond appearances in the way you interact with others.
• Avoid media that degrades or objectifies the body.  Seek out and/or create media that encourages a holistic view of self-worth.

What has helped you start seeing your whole self?  What other suggestions would you make?  What are the barriers that you've faced in seeing your whole self?  Share in the comments!

Article by Jessica Croft

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You're My Shero!

I was talking to an old friend the other day, catching up with each other on where our lives have lead us. I told her that I'm a therapist and that I specialize in working with women, body image, and self-esteem and that I also work at Women's Services.

"Oh yeah! I read that blog. I love how passionate you are about women's issues. You're like a chick-crusader. Carly, you're my shero," she laughed.

I don't think I've ever received a better, or funnier, compliment than that.  And it really got me thinking . . . Which got me talking . . . Which got me typing . . .

We all have amazing women in our lives that inspire us by what they do and who they are. So, we want to hear about them! We are having an essay contest because we want to hear about your Shero. See the details below:

Sheroes Essay Contest

Do you know an amazing, talented, intelligent, unique, all around wonderful woman; someone who inspires you and touches the lives of everyone she meets? We want to hear about her! The Sheroes Essay Contest is a chance for you to write a short essay about an amazing woman you know personally. Detail what makes her your hero, how she touches the lives of others, and what you (and others) can learn from her about being an inspirational woman.

Official Rules 

Essay should be no more than 1,000 words (not including the title of the essay).

Essays will be judged based on both style and content.

Essays should be clear, articulate, and logically organized.

Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation will contribute to the selection of the winner.

Essays will be judged in such a way that each author is anonymous to the judges (the Staff members of BYU Women’s Services and Resources).

Essays must be written in Microsoft Word, using Times New Roman or Calibri, 11–12 point font, and be double spaced.

Each essay must include a cover page with the following information

The title of the essay

Your full name (this is the only place your name should appear—do not put your name on subsequent pages)

Your email address

Your phone number

Include a running head with the title of your essay on all pages.

All students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are eligible to submit an essay.

Entrants may submit multiple entries (each written about a different woman) but will only be eligible for one prize.

Submissions will be accepted beginning July 10, 2013 and will no longer be accepted after August 1, 2013.

Submissions should be emailed to carly.lebaron@byu.edu.  Include the following in the email submission as attachments:

The essay, including cover page.

An appropriate .jpg photo of the woman written about in your essay.

When you submit a photo, you certify that you have the rights to that photo or have received permission from the owner to submit it and agree to allow Women’s Services and Resources to publish that photo to our website or other publications.

Winners will be selected and contacted on or before August 15, 2013.

Winners will be contacted using the email address and phone number provided on their cover page. If we are unable to contact a winner after one week of attempts, their prize will be forfeited and passed on to the next eligible entrant.

Winners will be responsible for claiming their prize in person at Women’s Services and Resources, 3326 Wilkinson Student Center, Brigham Young University.

Any prizes not claimed within 10 business days of notification will be forfeited.

Winning entries and notable runners-up will be posted on Women’s Services social media websites (including, but not limited to, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) and may be published in other forms of media (including, but not limited to, the Real Woman magazine).

Prizes

1^stPlace: $25 gift card to BYU Bookstore, Women’s Services tote, and a Beautiful t-shirt (your choice of color)

2^ndPlace: $15 gift card to BYU Bookstore, Women’s Services tote, and a Beautiful t-shirt (your choice of color)

3^rdPlace: $10 gift card to BYU Bookstore, Women’s Services tote, and a Beautiful t-shirt (your choice of color)

Each winner will also receive a “Beautiful” t-shirt to give to the woman who inspired her essay.

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Voices of Courage Survey

Hello lovely readers!  We have a sweet opportunity for you.  We're evaluating our Voices of Courage website and asking people to take a quick survey for us.  "Why is this a sweet offer," you ask. Well, the first 100 people to fill out the survey will receive a coupon for FREE Ice Cream at the BYU Creamery! Just click on the link below, follow the directions, and claim your sweet treat. But hurry, you have to be one of the first 100 to take the survey!

 https://byu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_dhY6C6zSgagyMf3

Please Note: You may only take the survey one time per person and only one coupon will be awarded per household. Your responses must be valid in order to earn the coupon.

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10 Day Body Image Challenge 2012

Today marks the beginning of our 10-Day Body Image Challenge. Even if you haven't signed up, hop on over to our Recapturing Beauty website and do the Challenge with us!!!
CLICK ME!!!

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