The ACT Body Project

What is the ACT body project?

The writing of values (or values consistent messages) on the body, and capturing this in photos or video as a means of embodying and experientially connecting with values. I used body paint (by PixyMama) and photography (by Tania Heath at Project Power Back) on my ACT body project journey. Let’s have a deeper look at the process.

Values

The first step in the ACT body project involves identifying, and connecting with your values. Values are what you stand for and what is important to you. Keep an eye on the resources and media sections of my website for tools to help you identify and connect your values.

When I started to think about values. The words fierce and funky came to mind. I initially pushed the words out because they are not values, but then I paused as while they are not values they capture a number of the values I hold. Courage, openness, authenticity, creativity, adventure, freedom, are all values that I hold dear, and fit with fierce and funky. I also value wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so wanted those captured as well.

I created space. I listened to the Values Charge Up guided exercise (available at https://drsarahpegrum.com/media/). I sat with the values, breathing into them, envisioning connecting with them. They came to life. This part of me had energy, and something to say about weight and body image: I am more than my body.

I had the words that I wanted on my body. They were my values and what the embodiment of my values wanted to say to the world. It was time to take the next step of finding a body artist, and a photographer.

I was nervous in approaching people and telling them about my project. I thought it was a cool idea, but maybe I was deluding myself. I paused, and asked how would the fierce and funky me respond to the fear I was experiencing? She would press on, and do it anyway.

Putting Values on Your Body

Once you have identified your values (or come up with a statement that captures or is from the embodiment of your values), find a way to put it on your body. I used body paint, and found a fantastic artist in the community.

The Art – Thanks to Pixy Mama (http://pixymama.com/)

Pixy Mama’s energy made me feel comfortable right away, and for the next 2 hours she worked on painting my body. There was a level of openness and vulnerability involved in letting someone see my body, flaws and all, and be close enough to paint it. There was something calming and therapeutic in feeling the brush on my skin, turning it into a canvas. When I looked in the mirror, I saw that her work was better than what I imagined it could be.

The words and art on the front of me, colourful, bold and beautiful, capturing the transformation. The values on my back, bursting out of darkness and providing shining light. Like a bright star exploding in a galaxy. It was time to capture the experience with photography.

The Capture

The next step of the ACT Body Project is to capture the experience. This allows you to have something that you can turn to in the future, and reconnect with the process. I reached out to a photographer.

The Photography – Thanks to Tania Heath of Project Power Back (https://www.projectpowerback.com/)

My brain could have come up with the idea earlier in the year, but it decided to have this spark in November. A time when the temperatures drop, and the blanket rain, drizzle and fog settles in, preparing us for the long winter ahead. These weather conditions did not fit well the ideas that came to mind when I thought of locations that would be fierce: locations in nature. But then again, what is more fierce than standing in a bikini on a rocky beach in the cold.

Seeing the words on my body. They became more than words. It was like their essence soaked into my skin. Into my body, and bringing with it memories of times when I have connected with those values, as well as visions and hopes of how to connect with them in the future. I could feel my body shifting. The shoulders pulling back. The chest opening up. Standing taller. The body posture of my values.

Hooking thoughts appeared; “what are you doing?”, “No one wants to see your flabby belly”, and “people will think you are an idiot”. Yet, Tania’s energy and support helped me stay connected to my values. We walked across the rocky beach. I looked at the ocean, with the suns rays hitting it, listening to the sounds of the rocks rolling as the waves move in and out. With those hooking thoughts in my mind as well as my, in front of the occasional passer by, I shed my coat. I stood in cold November air, by the ocean with the body art in a bikini. I was courageous, open, authentic, vulnerable, creative. I was fierce.

Sharing and Connecting

The final (though optional) part of the ACT body project is sharing your journey. I did this because I wanted to get the message out there, and I wanted more people to experience the ACT processes in this exercise. I hope that the more people do this it can build a sense of empowerment, connection and belonging.

Putting the Photos Out There

It was a powerful day, and I felt energized. I eagerly awaited the photos. When I got them, they did not disappoint. They were powerful and beautiful. A part of me wanted to drop them on social media, like I do my other photos. But these photos were different. They had a story. The had meaning. They had a message. They deserved better than a quick social media drop.

Thinking of a social media drop, or doing other things with the photos. The body image hooks again tried to get me. My attention moved away from the why of this experience, and narrowed in on the parts of my body that I am uncomfortable with, and that others would see those parts. It was a gentle reminder from my partner, that this is what this project was about; being more than the body and those thoughts, and being true to my values in the presence of these thoughts.

Join ACT Body Project

Did the project do what I hoped it would, allowing me to connect and embody  many ACT processes? Was it empowering and meaningful? Absolutely yes.

I invite you to join the project. Identify your value. Connect with them and any messages that part of you has for world. Put it on your body. Move and posture yourself to further embody those values, and capture it. Share it with me and the community.

Join me in the ACT body project.