The road towards loving your body can be a long and challenging one as it can be really hard to feel truly confident in your own skin. Learning how to love and accept yourself is a different process for everyone, and it certainly won’t happen instantaneously. Taking steps towards loving your body is essential to both your mental and physical health and will only benefit you in the long run. So, here are some ideas on how you can begin to pave the way towards loving your body.
- Make a list of the things you love about yourself.
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This might seem silly, but it’s good to acknowledge the parts of yourself you love! This can go further than just the physical aspects too. Your worth is far beyond the body you live in, so appreciate all the wonderful parts of your personality and being. Take notes of all the things that make you proud to be you. Being a loyal friend, driven worker and positive light in the world says a lot more about a person than their physical appearance.
- Surround yourself with people who bring out your best self.
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It seems obvious, but the people you choose to hang out with can make such a significant impact on your well-being. Don’t waste your time with pettiness and negativity, surround yourself with people who love and support you unconditionally. Having a solid group of friends who treat you right will do wonders for your mental and physical health. Surrounding yourself with people who see the best in you is bound to help you love who you are.
- Appreciate everything your body does for you.
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Your body is part of the reason why you’re where you are today. It is responsible for keeping you healthy, getting you from place to place and storing all the knowledge you have in your brilliant mind. Your body has also been there for you through everything, and it’s important to acknowledge the good it has brought, regardless of how you may feel about yourself at times.
- Wear clothes that make you feel good.
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An outfit that makes you feel like the bad*** you are can do wonders for your confidence. Taking a little extra time to pick out a fun outfit, or just putting on those ~killer~ shoes you’ve been waiting to wear can completely change the way you carry yourself. Not only that, but if you feel good about yourself everyone around you will feed off of that positive energy too.
- Try to alter your mindset.
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We all have those days where we find ourselves dwelling on the “negative” parts of ourselves. If you’re having a particularly rough mental day and notice you’re beating yourself up over little things, pause and take a step back. For every negative thought that slips into your mind, think of two or three positives about yourself. Fixating on those bad thoughts will only bring down your mood and won’t allow you to take time to grow. Adjusting your outlook can change a lot about how yourself and others perceive you.
- Ignore “typical” beauty standards promoted by the media.
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Major advertising and clothing companies tend to capitalize off of the looks of the “ideal body type.” Social Media has made it easy to get caught up in the unrealistic beauty standards that are perpetuated by the media. More often than not, it feels impossible to avoid these celebrities, public figures and models who are seen as the epitome of “perfection.” The reality of all this is that there is no “ideal” or “perfect” body type. Not to get cliche, but everyone is unique and no one wants to see cookie cutter images of what ~society~ regards as beautiful. Own what you have to offer to the world, and know that you are enough!
Learning to love your body is a journey that will be full of ups and downs. This process will be a challenging one, but loving and accepting your body is so important. Issues with body image and self-confidence may always weigh on your mind, but learning to have a healthy relationship with your body will ultimately change your life for the better.