In a world that loves to perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards, it can be challenging to maintain a cheerful outlook toward our own bodies. However, embracing body positivity is absolutely vital for our mental and emotional well-being. But exactly how can you silence the nagging voice that wants to keep you feeling bad about yourself?
It is not easy, but it is time to shift our focus from self-criticism to self-acceptance and celebrate the unique beauty that resides in each of us. With that in mind, we thought we had put together a list of some practical and powerful ways to cultivate a more positive outlook on your body.
Appreciate Your Body's Capabilities
Shift your focus from appearance to what your body can do and engage in activities that make you feel good, like dancing or hiking. Do not forget to acknowledge the amazing feats your body can and has achieved! And look for things that are not related to aesthetics to celebrate, like your strength, flexibility, and endurance. By appreciating your body's capabilities, you will develop a deeper sense of gratitude for all that it allows you to achieve.
Reject Comparison
Comparison is the thief of joy, particularly when it comes to body image. It is difficult to escape, however, thanks to social media. Just remember that everyone's body is unique and striving to meet someone else's standards will only create stress. Instead, focus on your own progress, growth, and self-improvement. If you struggle with comparison, consider reducing your time on
social media and shifting your feed to include content that is not centered around triggering topics.
Practice Self-Compassion
Life is hard enough, so be kind to yourself and cultivate self-compassion. Treat your body as a cherished friend rather than a source of criticism. Acknowledge that your body is a vessel that allows you to experience life, and it deserves your love and appreciation. Replace negative self-talk with affirmations and nurturing thoughts. When you find yourself slipping into negative thoughts, gently steer yourself back to the light. In time it will be your default setting!
Create a Network of Supportive People
Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, not people that point out faults or trigger negative thoughts and feelings. This can be difficult to do, but it is important to have a network of people that do not measure worth by aesthetics. You will want to do the same thing in your social media so that your feed is not full of the very crowd you are trying to avoid. Any account that is overly focused on weight, restrictive diets and negative body talk can be problematic.
Embrace Self-Care
Nurture your body through self-care practices and separate yourself from the idea that it is a reward for hard work. Instead, try to embrace the idea that you always deserve self-care, no matter what the scale says or if you fall off your diet. Expand the idea of self-care to include everything from getting enough sleep and eating nourishing foods to downtime and facemasks. Not only can this enhance your physical health but also boosts your self-esteem and body image.
Body positivity is not easy in today’s culture and cultivating a more positive outlook takes time and practice. At the end of the day just remind yourself, it is your life to live, so wear a dress, put on the swimsuit, go on the date and enjoy it! And of course, if you want to treat yourself, because you always deserve it, we are here to help!
