The way you feel about your body can influence your life in many ways, especially if you have negative feelings about body image. Having a positive outlook on your body can be extremely difficult, with increasing pressures from society depicting how bodies ‘should’ look.
Each and every body shape, size, and color are beautiful and unique. Of course, this truth is extremely difficult to grasp. Magazines, movies, and TV shows are constantly portraying picturesque bodies, which can make you think “So, THAT is a perfect body. Why does mine look so different?”
The Naked Truth: not one body is better, more beautiful, or acceptable than another.
If you think about it, as children we never thought twice about how bodies looked. We were grateful that it gave us all the means to run, jump, and survive. Struggling with one’s body-positivity is unfortunately quite common and seems to get more difficult as we get older. So what has changed? Can we go back to that mind set?
First off, you are not alone in this struggle with body positivity.
Research shows that 70%-80% of women are unhappy with their bodies. This statistic alone shows just how impactful media and society can be on an individual’s self-esteem. Accepting your body and all the perfect imperfections doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey of self-love, acceptance, and understanding.
Body positivity refers to the assertion that all people deserve to have a positive body image, regardless of how society and popular culture view ideal shape, size, and appearance (Cherry, 2020). Achieving this outlook on one’s body requires daily work, care, and patience. There are many different tips, tricks, and techniques that can help you on this self-love mission.
None of this ‘work’ requires changing your body in any way – it requires changing the way you look at your body.
Here are some small ways you can kick off the journey to love, acceptance, and confidence:
- Daily Affirmations: Affirmations are positive sayings that you repeat to yourself that can help overcome negative feelings about oneself. Repeating these affirmations daily can instill more positivity and confidence in yourself, which in turn will change how you feel overall. It may sound ridiculously easy to do, but that’s the point! Day after day you will fuel your soul with positive messages and soon enough you may notice a change in your mindset. “I am worthy!” “I am beautiful!” “I am healthy!”
- Social Media Awareness: I know you don’t want to hear it, but that thing in your hand that you constantly scroll through can affect your self-esteem more than you think. Comparing yourself to others is a natural human process, but why do it more than you have to? If you notice that after you scroll through Instagram for an hour you start feeling bad about yourself, try and take note of exactly which accounts are making you feel this way. Unfollow those accounts that portray unrealistic body images, limit your social media intake, or even follow accounts that promote or give tips on positive body image.
- Focus on the good: We are all human beings capable of extraordinary things. Let’s focus on THOSE things! Each person has unique qualities and capabilities, so why don’t you write down your superpowers? Reading a list about things you are proud of, capable of, or things you recently achieved can ignite a spark of confidence and self-love.
- Cater to your body: Have you ever heard the saying “Your body is a temple?” Well, it’s the truth. Cater to your body; whether it be a massage, getting your nails done, or even kicking your feet up after a long day. Your body deserves a break just as much as you do. Once you start listening to what your body needs, your mind will also be grateful.
- Be healthy: Being healthy doesn’t mean dieting. True health is fueling your body with the things it needs. Just like a plant, be sure to give yourself adequate sunshine, love, and food. When you think of eating ‘healthy foods’ or exercising, don’t think of it as something you HAVE to do. Think of it as a way of paying your body back for all that it does for you with no ulterior motive. When you make your body feel good, you are also fueling your mind which allows positive emotions to flow through.
These tips are just some of many ideas that can help you achieve body positivity. Don’t be too hard on yourself, be patient and kind each day, and remember you are human. If we can look at ourselves and be happy with how we look on the outside while also feeling good on the inside, just imagine how this feeling will radiate to those around you. And don’t forget to be kind to others and support them when they need a positive boost too!
Remember that this is a continuous lifelong journey of learning about yourself, what you love, and listening to what your body needs from you most!
