Positive body image is SO MUCH MORE than feeling comfortable in your skin;

Invest in the lives of boys and girls so they can be released from limiting beliefs and become free to be leaders in their communities and families.

Free To Be Talks is a registered non-profit organization. Please note, because we are not a charity, we cannot issue tax receipts at this time. 

Whatever your why may be, thank you! 

DONATE
 

“I really enjoyed the whole unit. I learned a lot and it changed my perspective and affected my knowledge a lot in a positive way.” - Grade 7 girl

 
 

Follows us on Instagram @freetobetalks 
 

This picture warms our hearts ❣️ We'd be lying if we said we didn't get a little nervous about participation when we host events and deliver the Free To Be program. This image was shot when we collaborated with @ivivva_w4th by @lululemon for 2 free workshops for parents and girls. A yoga session had the girls giggling and interacting with one another while sharing their thoughts during our media literacy workshop 🙌🏼 Ideas about who we should collaborate with next? We're all ears! (and eyes on Instagram) 😉 Comment below or send me, Renae, and email at Renae@freetobetalks. I can't wait to hear from you! 📸 @christiegrahamphotography
We ❤️ this excerpt from @rupikaur. Sometimes, we get caught up in always looking ahead, where the grass just might be greener. We might be idolizing the next big thing, whether its a new place to call home or even a promotion at work. But what about taking a minute to 👀 around at what you do have? We challenge you to comment below and share ONE thing you're grateful for in this very moment. Ready, go!👇🏼Happy weekend, friends!
Dont' miss out on your 95% of your life, just to weigh 5% less or to look a little different. There's so much we miss out on when we don't spend time being mindful. Picture the last time you were really happy. 🙃 What were you doing? Who were you with? Can you remember what about that particular moment made you smile and feel at ease? Oftentimes we can get so caught up in minor details that we miss out on the exact moments that brought us joy and contentment. ✨ Call a friend and schedule a hang out date. Sit outside and feel the sun on your skin. Read a book and learn something new that captivates you! We'll say it again, dont' miss out on your 95% of your life, just to weigh 5% less or to look a little different. 👏🏼👏🏼
Have you ever gone shopping and found a piece of clothing that you really love? You find your size and walk into the fitting room to try it on, you look in the mirror and your confidence does a U-turn? 😦 You're not alone! And that's why we LOVE this image by @britt_badillo She is surrounded by words of encouragement on sticky notes - something @aerie from @americaneagle encourages shoppers to do. What would you write? Comment below! 👇🏼👏🏼
Just a few of the things we aim for when delivering the Free To Be program 📓✨ When our facilitators visit schools, they focus on our overall mission, to remove imposed distractions that negatively impact body image so that youth can develop into leaders that will positively impact their communitites. Six sessions (one hour each) are included in the program as we work to create a safe, open conversation with students so that they can benefit from the learnings in their own way. 👏🏼 We truly believe that our approach with supporting research CAN make a difference - and preliminary data analyses have shown that Free To Be increases positive body image, positive body image coping strategies and decreases body dissatisfaction in both girls and boys. THAT is why we continue to do what we do ❤️ Click on the #linkinbio and see what we're all about. Our site is packed with information about the program, our facilitators, and more!
Simple, but true 👏🏼 There is so much power in having someone be an "external brain" when we are feeling down. If I am mired in my own unhelpful thoughts 💭 having a friend with a solid head on their shoulders can lift me out of those awful trenches. Our (wise) friends can see and understand things that we can’t or they understand things we don't about an issue, which is why we love this quote❣️ Thriving necessarily involves being actively engaged with other people's lives. We are so grateful for the important people who have made a difference in our life. Tag a friend below who has been an important "external brain" for you! 👇🏼
Can you believe it? We agree...it's shocking and down right devastating 😧 It's hard to wrap our heads around just how we got here. We weren't born hating our bodies. We weren't born being dissatisfied with our bodily makeup. We learned how to do this. By seeing headlines titled "Who Wore It Better?" and being inundated from a young age with images that help us believe there's nothing more to who we are than our outward appearance. 🚫 That's why at Free To Be, we're shedding light on these statistics. We want it to make your jaw drop, because the more awareness we bring to where we are right now, the more we can shape the future by educating our youth to better understand the unrealistic portrayal of attractiveness AND the deeply powerful underlying messages in the media. ☝🏼 Let's give young girls and boys the tools to empower themselves and their generation to be the ✨BEST✨they can be 👏🏼 If this resonates with you, we encourage you to speak up and join in! Click the #linkinbio to learn more about the Free To Be mission and how you can make a difference.
We've said it before, but it's worth the reminder...you are SO much more than your outer appearance.☝🏼 From a young age, we're taught to put such emphasis on our appearance. It's almost engrained in our minds to have a constant focus on bettering our complexion, hair, wardrobe and so much more. But what does this really lead to? 😧 It doesn't make us feel better about ourselves just because we bought an expensive moisturizer and we surely don't feel more confident just because we're wearing designer jeans...right? Ultimitaely, we're letting unrealistic cultural expectations lead us astray. The truth is, focusing on only our body leads to an empty road filled with empty promises. So, instead let's try to focus on being present in the moment; with the people we are with; the expereinces we are engaged in; and the challenges we are undertaking 🙌🏼✨Those are all fulfilling things we can focus on, that aid in a meaningful, well-balanced life. Happy weekend, friends!