Embracing Body Positivity: A Journey to Self-Love

In a world that often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, it’s essential to develop a mindset that celebrates all bodies. Here are some inspiring ways to foster body positivity in your daily life:

1. Practice Self-Compassion: 

Something I struggle with heavily is putting others wants and needs above my own. It’s so important to take care of yourself first, so you are better able to help yourself and others. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend. Acknowledge your feelings and remember that it’s okay to have days when you struggle with body image. We all have hard days and it’s important to remember we are not alone in these feelings.

2. Surround Yourself with Positivity:

 Curate your social media feeds to include body-positive influencers and organizations. Choose to fill your life with messages that uplift and inspire confidence. Spend time with people who uplift and support you friends who want what’s best for you and to build you up rather than put you down.

As much as I love them, I’ve had to put up boundaries with friends who choose to stay stuck in the negativity and unintentionally(I hope) try to bring me down with them. I’ve struggled with this for a long time, but it’s worth keeping my peace.

3. Celebrate Your Uniqueness: 

Embrace what makes you, you! Each of us is so different and that’s what’s great about this world. Take pride in your individuality and let your personality shine, whether it’s a birthmark, height, or curves. Love what makes you feel you! It’s okay to do things that make you feel better about yourself. I love dying my hair(though it’s pretty much been red since I was 12 give or take a few years) and getting my nails done. They enhance my natural beauty and make me feel good about myself. 

4. Shift Your Language: 

Be mindful of how you talk about your body and others’s. Shifting from negative comments to affirmations can have a huge impact on your mental health. Acknowledge the negative thoughts and use the thought-challenging technique. I have to challenge the intrusive thoughts on my weight and the things people called me over the years, and remind myself they are not true and   the people who love me do not feel that way about me. Instead of criticizing yourself, celebrate your body for what it does for you every day.

5. Focus on Health, Not Size:

Prioritize feeling good and being healthy over fitting a particular mold. We are human and only have 1 life. I lost so many years of my life worrying about food, my size, and what people thought of me. I missed many opportunities and cried pillows of tears because I believed the things they told me. Because I was “fatter than an elephant“ or “a whale” I never wanted to go swimming or wear bathing suits. I would skip out on coffee dates, birthday dinners, and avoided going out to eat because I didn’t want to hear the comments. 

I both stunted my growth and held myself back in more ways than one, but now is not the time to dwell on that. Those thoughts are still there, but I no longer let them control me anymore. Unfortunately, my journey was kicked backwards a little, but I am working hard to not let these comments affect me and bring me down. I will allow myself to enjoy life free from their negativity. Now I focus on and encourage you engage in activities that enrich your life and bring you joy, regardless of their effect on your size

6. Challenge Societal Norms:

Beauty standards are not a necessity, it’s more than OK to be different from the status quo. It doesn’t matter what they show in the magazines or what people call attractive. Question the stereotypes and standards of beauty you encounter. Know that not everyone agrees with those standards and that being healthy is much more important than looking like a supermodel.

Remember, everyone’s journey is unique, and beauty can’t be confined to a single set of characteristics.There is so much more beautiful about you than what is on the outside.  And those things you call “flaws”, would you call them that to a friend? Exactly.

By actively working to embrace body positivity, we can create a more inclusive world where everyone feels valued and confident in their own skin. So, let’s celebrate our bodies and inspire those around us to do the same!