Why Your Self-Worth is Not Tied to Your Appearance: Tips for Building a Positive Body Image

We all deserve to love the body we are in both inside and out... As we only get one!

Body image has become an increasing topic of interest since the days of social media. However, even our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on were exposed to the concept of Body image and how this can have such a huge impact on our mental health.

Many tend to admire those who love their bodies both inside and out, and wonder how people can have such a positive Body image.

The truth is… for most of us, this does not come easily. Positive Body image is usually something we have to work on.

As humans, we tend to worry about what others think of us and we actually tend to be the most judgemental of ourselves.

Our lives are full of so many everyday activities that require energy and brain power, such as; school, work, hobbies, looking after family, kids, pets, etc. so when our outlook on our Body image becomes negative, this drains our energy and brain power. It may also cause some of us to become nervous about social events and similar activities that should bring joy.

From one of the most loved Christmas movies of all time… “Ohhh, ahh, mmm… That’s it I’m not going.” Famously quoted by the Grinch from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” while trying to decide on something to wear, I’m sure this resonates with many of us! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I would definitely recommend watching the movie, it is an absolute classic. However, that is a discussion for another time! So let’s get back to body image!

Countless times I personally have not gone to a social event due to not feeling confident or comfortable in any of my clothes. I look at myself in the mirror, and feel insecure, upset and just at a loss with how I look. I can’t exclaim how true this situation has been throughout many times in my life. And I know I’m not alone! Many of us would have most likely experienced this at least once in our lives.

We now know that many people struggle with body image. So, what can we do to help us create a positive Body image?

Firstly, we need to realise that positive Body image isn’t actually about how we look on the outside, it is about how we FEEL about the way that we look!

Here are a few tips and tricks you can try to implement to improve your own body image:

Acknowledge things about your body you do love. I’m sure there is at least something! A great way to practice this is to write down positive affirmations about yourself in a journal. Even practice saying them out loud to yourself!
Choose to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. If you catch yourself talking negatively about yourself in any way, make a conscious effort to alter your current mindset and turn that negative thought into a more positive one!
Stop comparing yourself to others! You are beautiful and individual! How boring would it be if we were all the same!
No one is perfect! Sometimes the quirky things about ourselves are what make us unique.
Have a think and start to appreciate all the amazing things your body does for you every day! Embrace who you are as a whole person. Beauty is not skin deep, so focusing on things other than aesthetics is important.
Surround yourself with positive people. The people around you have a huge impact on your thoughts and perspective. The people around you should respect and appreciate the importance of positive Body image.

There is only one you, so begin to flip the switch and start to love the things that make you an individual. This is not something that will happen overnight, it can take A LOT of practice to improve body image. So, commit to improving your self-talk and implementing these little tips and tricks to work on a more positive Body image.

Remember that we will all still have moments in life where positive Body image will be a struggle, but the goal is to improve our mindset and work toward a more positive outlook on ourselves!