Build your knowledge
Build Your Knowledge
Letting go of a fixation on your body is hard. It can feel all-consuming—constantly wondering if the scale will budge, when those special pants will fit, or how many calories you should eat today. If you’ve experienced disordered eating, you know how it leaves no room for anything else. These thoughts aren’t a reflection of your character; they’re a product of the struggles you’re facing.
Unfortunately, this cycle easily becomes endless. You dive deeper into diet content, scroll through weight-loss videos, and leave no space to explore other interests. It’s as if nothing else matters but that one goal, yet it never brings you true peace.
A Small Step to Break the Cycle
Today, I want to challenge you to shake things up—just a bit. You don’t need a grand, dramatic shift overnight. Instead, try one small, manageable change: carve out 30 minutes each day to learn something new. Call it “research” if you want, but all it means is dedicating a little time to explore a topic that intrigues you.
What sparks your curiosity? Maybe it’s consumer marketing, a scientific concept you’ve never understood, or business trends in your industry. Perhaps you’d like to follow a political storyline, learn about cutting-edge technology, or grasp the basics of a new skill.
Why This Matters
I know this might feel random, even pointless at first. But hear me out. A few months ago, I realized I was fixating almost exclusively on my physical appearance. My dad sent me an article that described three types of confidence: physical, intellectual, and social. It made me see how much I’d neglected the other two, focusing solely on how I looked instead of what I knew or how I connected with others.
To shift gears, I decided to nurture my intellectual confidence. I’d always wanted to understand current events better, but never stuck to a routine. So, I made a simple plan: every morning, I read the New York Times Morning Briefing—just five minutes. On my commute, I listened to an eight-minute headlines podcast. At work, instead of scrolling through TikTok for a distraction, I checked CNN or Apple News. Later, on an evening walk, I’d read a brief update on what happened that day.
At first, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. I didn’t get every reference in the articles I read, and sometimes I missed mindless scrolling. But I stuck with it. Over time, I found myself connecting the dots between stories, understanding context, and developing genuine curiosity. I was learning, growing, and measuring my progress in a whole new way—not by a number on a scale, but by the depth of my knowledge.
Expanding Your World
This small shift paid off. I could have more meaningful conversations with others, share interesting tidbits, and even gather fresh ideas that inspired me in other areas of my life. My world expanded beyond my body image concerns, and that felt incredibly liberating.
I’m not saying that researching something for 30 minutes each day will solve everything. But sometimes, a tiny step can help pull you out of your own head. Remember: you are so much more than your weight or clothing size. The more you focus on nurturing your mind, the less you’ll be trapped by the physical.
Your Turn
So, what topic will you explore? Which podcasts will you discover? Which new videos or articles will you dive into? The possibilities are endless, and even if it’s just for those 30 minutes, you’ll feel better. You’ll be building your mind, expanding your perspective, and creating room for something more fulfilling than the endless cycle of body fixation.
Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.