How To Feel Good About Your Body
It’s an unfortunate fact that many women and men hate their bodies or wish that they could change something about it. Research shows that as much as 84% of American women feel body dissatisfaction at some point in their life. And really it’s no wonder why we’re all confused about what a happy healthy body looks like. Across social media, in magazines and movies, we’re constantly inundated with perfectly altered and edited images of bodies that usually fit a very specific beauty aesthetic. Trying to live up to these unattainable beauty standards can lead to feeling insecure about your own body, as well as cause anxiety and resentment. We forget that there is beauty to be found in all body types. And more importantly, a person’s value isn’t based on their physical appearance.
Learning to love and accept yourself isn’t always an easy job, but it can be done! Here are some great tips you can incorporate into your life to help you feel good about your body.
How To Feel Good About Your Body
Commit To It
Acknowledging you want to change and accepting responsibility for all of your behaviors is the first step to feeling better about yourself. Although it’s not always, committing to this process will help you focus on being kind and having positive feelings for yourself.
Practice Gratitude
It’s easy to get caught up and obsess over the things that you perceive as wrong with your body. But when that happens, you ignore or forget all the good things you have going on in life. When you start practicing gratitude, you’ll shift your mind from seeing the negative and start focusing on the positive. Studies have shown that people who are more grateful in life tend to take better care of themselves. They also adopt more healthy behaviors like exercise and a good diet. So, the more thankful you are in life, the more you take care of yourself. The more you take care of yourself, the better you feel.
Let Go Of Unrealistic Beauty Standards
We see hundreds if not thousands of perfectly edited images almost every single day that shapes our perception of beauty. And when we don’t live up to those standards, we’re left feeling bad about ourselves. The thing is, is that no one can live up to society’s beauty standards. The images we see, whether in glossy magazines or on social media, all have something in common. Perfect lighting, makeup teams, photoshop, and filters are all used to create the perfect image. Comparing yourself to these manipulated images will always leave you feeling inadequate, and the ability to find love and acceptance in yourself will be much harder.
Don’t Judge Other People’s Bodies
Judging other people based on the way their body looks reinforces the idea that a person’s appearance is a valid measure of one’s value. If you believe that of other people, then you’ll believe that of yourself as well. Knowing that your worth is not based on body image will make it much easier to feel good about yourself, no matter how you feel about your body.
Unfollow Social Media Accounts That Make You Feel Bad
There are a lot of social media accounts out there that might inspire some but bring up negative thoughts and increase personal body dissatisfaction. There is absolutely no reason for you to follow these accounts if they are having a negative impact on your mental health.
Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
Nothing good will come out of comparing yourself to others and worrying about other people won’t help you become the best version of yourself. In fact, it’s a complete waste of time that robs you have happiness. Although this can be a hard habit to break, with practice, in time it can be done.
Comparison is the thief of joy -Theodore Roosevelt
Develop Good Posture
Even if it’s not how you feel in the moment, having a good posture will make you appear more confident. Practice walking tall, with your chin up and shoulders pulled back, and walk slowly but with purpose. Work on projecting an aura of confidence around you, and people will take notice. Lastly, try and pay attention to the way you feel when walking and standing tall. When you do something that feels good, you will naturally want to do it more and more.
Do Something That Makes You Feel Good Everyday
Make a habit of doing something enjoyable every day, no matter how small. This could be wearing cozy slippers around the house, doing a face mask before bed, wearing a silk robe at home, or spritzing yourself with your favorite perfume right before going to bed. These little gestures will help your brain associate your body with good thoughts and feelings.
Incorporate Regular Self-Care
Taking time out of your day or week to dedicate solely to taking care of yourself is so very important. We put so much time and effort into all the other significant areas of our lives, like family and work. Doing something to nurture yourself sends the message to yourself and others that you’re just as important and worthy of this attention too. If you’re in need of some self-care ideas these Easy Ideas For An Overnight Glow Up are a good place to start.
Exercise Regularly
Making exercise a regular part of our routine has so many great benefits. It’s a natural way to increase your energy levels, help manage stress, and keep your body healthy. When you exercise, you tend to eat better as well. When you move your body, work at getting in shape, and start feeling strong, you will notice the positive impact this has on your self-esteem. Finding a physical activity that you enjoy doing is the easiest way to stay consistent. Here are some Tips For Finding Motivation To Work Out.
Eat Well And Stay Hydrated
Never underestimate the impact that eating good foods and staying hydrated will have on you. Eating a healthy, nutritious diet of whole foods will improve your gut health, boost your immune system, as well as help to improve hair and skin health.
Do More Of The Things You Love
Try doing the things you love and are good at more often. Doing things you enjoy creates positive thoughts that will allow you to feel happier overall about yourself and your life.
Dress For Your Body
Don’t dress for the body you want, but for the body you have, even if you’re not exactly where you want to be at the moment. Instead of wearing clothes meant to hide “flaws’ instead dress to play up and accentuate your favorite features. Wear colors that compliment your eyes and skin tone, as well as wear fabrics that feel nice on your skin and fit your body comfortably. Dressing nicely is another way to tell yourself and others that you care for yourself. Here’s How You Can Find Style Inspiration In Four Easy Steps.
Fake It Till You Make It
Learning to love yourself and feel good about your body can be a long journey that takes time. But just because you’re not there yet, doesn’t mean you can’t act like it.
Work With A Professional
If loving your body and feeling good about yourself has been a long ongoing struggle, changing this most likely won’t happen overnight. And if you feel that you’ve done your best to try and reach a place of acceptance but have been unsuccessful, then seeking guidance from a professional can help. A therapist, health coach, or support group can help guide you, and the extra counseling could be just what you need to find peace.
Xx Monti
