I first learned the value of understanding whether we view our body as more ornamental or more functional from a workbook I’ve had for years called “EveryBody is a Somebody”*. Understanding how I most tend to view my body has been a helpful tool for me, and I have found it also resonates with people I work with, providing a practical place to start in understanding and shifting their relationship with their body.
What do we mean by ‘functional’ and ‘ornamental’? Here are the definitions offered in the ‘EveryBody is a Somebody’ workbook:
Functional – seeing the body as serving a purpose; perceiving and appreciating what the body does for the individual
Ornamental – experiencing the body in terms of how it appears to others; judging the body based on how it looks; relating to it as an object
Now….take a moment to pause and think about those definitions and see if you recognize yourself in them. Do you see your body more for what it does for you, or how it looks, especially to others? At the end of the day, are you more aware of how your body has carried you, helped you move, build things or express yourself? Or, are you more aware of the presentation of your body, how it was viewed and appreciated by your own eyes and the eyes of others? Are you more aware of how you are taking up space, or are you more aware of how you are physically engaging with the world around you?
Why is this helpful? Because many of us who are struggling with a strained relationship with our bodies often come from a rigidly ornamental way of seeing our body, which can make us vulnerable to the opinions of others and unrealistic images of perfection. Nurturing a more functional view of your body can help you move away from letting external judgements shape how you feel about your body and instead be shaped by abilities and accomplishments, a sense of competence and by our inner self-worth.
However, I don’t think it is helpful to see this as an ‘either or situation’. When I first started thinking how I view my body I got stuck for a bit in a ‘black and white’ way of thinking about it. I decided having any kind of ornamental view of my body was ‘bad’ and would automatically contribute to a negative body image. But now I see that a positive relationship with my body can include both a functional *and* an ornamental view. Enjoying how I look and playing with things like clothes, hair, etc. isn’t intrinsically bad, as long as we are aware of what is motivating us and that we balance it with a deep appreciation for how our body functions for us. We all have the opportunity to experience our body in an ornamental and a functional way and what we are looking to do is find a balance between the two that supports a positive relationship with our body.
There are, however, some traps that will keep us from finding this balance! First, consider if you tend to view your body through an ornamental lens all the time and never take the time to recognize and be mindful of the awesome functional acts your body does for you on a daily basis. If so, you might have some work to do to improve your ability to relate to your body in a functional way. Practicing mindfulness here and starting to pay attention to the things your body does for you can be helpful. Engaging in pleasurable physical activity is also a great way to increase your functional appreciation of your body. And note, I said ‘pleasurable’…that is important, because if you are doing something you hate you might be more inclined to dissociate from your body than to pay attention and connect with it, which defeats the purpose.
Also consider if you are susceptible to the current narrow definition of beauty that tells us we must be thin, white, young, able bodied, cis-gendered, etc. to be beautiful or attractive. This can cause major body image problems because such a tiny percentage of us meet that beauty ideal. However, if we work to break free of the current cultural restraints place on what is considered lovely to look at, and open ourselves to seeing the beauty in diversity, we can find a way to enjoy the beauty and artistry of the human body (*all* bodies), to adorn ourselves in clothes, colours, and glitter that please us. We can then have an ornamental view of our body that supports our efforts to be body sovereign, not sabotage it.
There is much more to be said on this topic, but I hope I’ve given you a place to start in recognizing where you might be on the ornamental/functional view of the body continuum and what work you might need to do to shift yourself to a more positive place to support your quest for body sovereignty.
Thank you for reading!
Sydney
p.s. ~ If you are looking to do some active work on your relationship with your body, I can help! Here are some of my current offerings:
Check out my Reclaiming Body Sovereignty Workbook for support in bringing mindfulness, compassion and discernment to your body sovereignty journey.
Join my email list, Living Body Sovereign to get regular updates with goodies, tips, resources and information about upcoming workshops and resources sent directly to you.
Book a counselling or body image coaching session with me, either via webcam or if you live close to Kitchener, Ontario we can meet up in person! As of June 1, 2016 my counselling office will be located at The Hive and Grove in Kitchener.
I also offer a free 30 minute phone consultation. Email me at: sydney_bell@me.com for more information. I would love to connect.