Dr. Dara Brown
GCU Counselor Educator
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
“Your body is a temple.” We hear this so often, but what does it really mean?
Well, it means a couple of things. First, we should treat our bodies as though they are a sacred place. When I think of a sacred place, I think of a church or holy ground. When something is sacred, it deserves special attention and maintenance.
The same is true for us! We must ensure that we are maintaining our physical wellness by consistently getting enough exercise, getting enough sleep, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and avoiding toxins (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, etc.).
Another aspect of treating your body like a temple means loving yourself for who you are. God created you to be unique and special. While there are things that we can do to maintain our physical wellness, it is also appropriate just to love ourselves the way that we are.
So many people look to worldly things, such as social media, celebrities, fashion and cosmetics, to compare themselves or attempt to make themselves feel better when, in reality, they just need to work on accepting the person they are and all the wonderful aspects of themselves.
This can seem a little confusing. On one hand, we say that there are things that you can do to maintain your physical wellness, but on the other hand, we say that you are perfect just the way that you are. Which is it?
Well … both. Much of life is about finding a healthy balance. Coming to the realization that God created us in His perfect image is so humbling and empowering. By taking care of ourselves, we are being good servants to His creation and allowing ourselves to serve as a well-functioning vessel in order to do His work here on Earth.
