Remember: Expansive

- Just because you don't look like "everybody else" does not mean you are not beautiful. Have you read Song of Solomon lately? Did Solomon talk about how his beloved bride had the latest hairstyle, the chic clothes that everybody was wearing, or the Christian Louboutin shoes? No. He said she was unique. She was different. She was not like the other women. Being yourself will make you stand out to the right people who want to know you for who you are on the inside, not what accessories and clothes and dyes you can put on yourself to blend in with the crowd. Think about the most remarkable people you know - what is it that draws you to them? Is it what they look like? Or is it the unique and fascinating person that shines in their words and actions? It's your personality and God-given interests and styles that are beautiful and truly attractive.

- "But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat" (1 Cor. 8:8). You are not a horrible person because you ate a cheeseburger. You did not "fail" because you drank regular Coke instead of diet. You are not a slob because your body needed you to stay home and rest a while instead of go to the gym. Certainly it's important to take care of your body; but don't fall into the trap of saying "oh, I'm such a horrible person, I ate _________". Horrible people commit crimes and destroy families and communities. Eating a few brownies does not make you horrible.

- Food is in itself neither good nor evil. The culture of fitness and nutritious eating in our society has imposed an incredible amount of guilt on us for the food choices we make. From gigantic calorie labels on vending machines, to prohibitions of super-sized sodas, to frightening PSAs about obese children and the problems they face, we are constantly indoctrinated to believe that foods like cookies, pizza, chips, etc. are not just "bad for you," but that it's borderline wrong to eat them. You are told that you have to perform a "penance" of exercise or abstinence in order to make up for the "sin" of eating the forbidden food. Please remember that that isn't true. Maybe the cookie isn't the best food choice you could eat, but as long as you're eating everything in moderation, you will be fine, and you haven't done anything wrong. Don't let society keep you down with guilt.

- Be big. Be a big person. I don't mean be famous, or ambitious, or busy; I just mean to let yourself reach out and explore a lot of different things. Don't be so preoccupied with your body that you shrink down into a small, anxious, self-absorbed woman. Reach out into the world around you and be expansive. Read something new; learn a new skill; meet a new person; think about something in a new way. Try a clothing style or food that you've never tried before. Visit family in a place you rarely go. Don't let society press and squeeze you into a little, tight, size-zero version of who it thinks you should be. Break free. Be free and open to hear the Holy Spirit's voice and the voices of your family, your true friends, and the people out there that God has prepared for you to meet and love. The world is a big place - let yourself be big enough to take it all in.