Your body is the only one you have. It is your home to live in, and it will be with you for the rest of your life. This is why it is important to have a good relationship with it, to be kind to it, accept it for what it is, what it offers you, and what it allows you to do.
However, in a world where made-up ‘beauty standards’ are constantly changing, and are constantly bombarding everyone with images of the “ideal” body, it’s not always easy to feel confident in your own skin.
While it is a journey, accepting and even loving your body is essential for your mental and physical health, and is something worth embarking on. Here is a guide to help you get started.
Embrace Your Uniqueness
No one else is you, or has a body like yours. It is unique, so why waste that trying to make it look like someone else’s? Futile trends come and go, so celebrate the things that make you ‘you’, whether it’s your body shape, skin color, or things that are seen as ‘imperfections’. Yes, there are a lot of quotation marks here, because it is all made up. There is nothing imperfect about you as you are – focus on aspects you love about yourself and remember it whenever you feel like you might be slipping.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a tool that can help shift your mindset from something that troubles you into something you can enjoy. Take some time each day to focus on the things you’re grateful for about your body – it could be anything. Perhaps you are grateful for your eyesight, your ability to dance, or that you can listen to music. Whatever it is, if you are able to focus on the positives, then that can help them take priority in your brain over the negatives.
Sometimes, you might face something difficult such as a mastectomy or childbirth, which changes everything. You are allowed to be grateful for surviving and still want things to change. Some programs, such as mommy makeover in Tulsa will give you options of surgery for common areas where things can change drastically and help you put a plan in place.
Change Your Mindset
It’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts about your body, especially when social media and other external factors are so prevalent. However, it is important not to give in. Do your best to reframe your thoughts to be more neutral or positive, depending on where you are at mentally. For example, instead of thinking, “I hate my thighs,” remind yourself of the well such as, “My legs are strong and powerful, and they help me do the things I love.”
If you are not able to be positive about your body right now, which can be difficult for some, being neutral can be just as beneficial. You are more than your looks, and your body is what allows you to live your life.
