We all have it, and every day (sometimes without knowing) we are contributing to it; body image is the self-perception of one’s own attractiveness and aesthetics. Body image may lean be positive or negative depending on how you view yourself and how you feel others view you. Having a healthy body image means that you are able to accurately see yourself and feel good about your body’s looks and abilities.
Creating a long-lasting positive body image is essential and something we can all work toward. Treat yourself kindly and love all that you are, and you’ll experience less stress, have more self-esteem and be happier. This isn’t to say that there are some days where you won’t struggle, but remember that your worth is more than what is on the outside! Below are a few dos and don’ts for a healthy, positive body image.
Do…
Something nice for your body. Take a bath, take a nap in the hammock in the back yard, or just carve out space for meditation. Do whatever makes you feel good. Giving yourself permission to take a break and celebrate you is a great way to start having more positive thoughts about yourself.
Surround yourself with supportive and loving people. It can sometimes be a daunting task to live to what we think society is asking from us, and having a great support system will help put you at ease. The people around you love and support you because they see the things that strangers can’t with only their eyes.
Become a critical viewer of advertisements and slogans targeted toward you. Think, for example, the ridiculous “getting a bikini body” promotions. Do you have a body? Good, then you have a bikini body! If you don’t like what the company is trying to advertise to you, say something. With the power of social media and the connectedness we have from the Internet, chances are there is someone, or a group of people out there who feel the same way.
Be mindful about the way to talk about your body to others. This is so important for women. We are often the most critical on ourselves and seem to have no problem saying negative statements that degrade our looks. Regardless if it is a sarcastic statement, you never know who is listening and the most affected listeners are younger women. You may not know all of the people who look up to you, and to a young admirer, phrases like that can be damaging.
Don’t…
Compare yourself to images in the media. Most of the images we consume are highly edited and crafted for an ideal look in our society. This is great for advertising, but should not be used as a benchmark for everyday living.
Forget how amazing your body is, and I don’t just mean physically. Celebrate you abilities, your inventive imagination or your contagious laughter. You are so much more than what the eyes can see.
Feel like you have to change something about your body for someone else. This is a very personal choice that should come from within you.
Speak negatively of others. Just as much as a stranger doesn’t know your story, you do not know theirs. We are all different with different genes and lifestyles, so comparing ourselves to someone else is really a fruitless task.
“Your body hears everything your mind says.” – Naomi Judd