Love Your Body: 16 Tips to Practice Body Positivity
As a photographer and fitness coach, I hear so much negativity centered around body image. Social media has perpetuated this image of “perfection” and often both men and women end up being overly hard on themselves if they don’t meet this impossibly high standard. The comments just roll right in, things like, “I love the pictures but I really need to start working out again,” “I’d just like to get rid of this spare tire and love handles,” and “I could never look like that.” It’s something that is so ingrained in our culture most of us don’t even notice when we’re saying negative things about ourselves anymore! It’s so easy to say “ew, I look fat in this” and not even think twice. I catch myself thinking things like that all the time and it’s time to check ourselves. It’s okay to not be “perfect” but it’s NOT okay to judge and hate on yourself. It’s high time we start accepting ourselves and our bodies as nothing less than exceptional. I heard a line in a song the other day, "I signed the papers for a lifelong lease, I rent the earth where I stay and the air I breathe.” It made me think about how we have an unknown, limited time on earth and we are given one body, and I for one would much rather spend my time cherishing and loving every inch of it than ripping it apart. I know it is one of those things that is much easier said than done and it’s always a work in progress but if you’re ready, here’s what to do next:
Set intention. First things first, commit to change. It doesn’t mean you’re going to be 100% nice to yourself all the time but you’re deciding right now that you’re going to work on loving your body.
Rewrite your narrative. So often we think looking a certain way is going to make us happy, but ask yourself “why do you want to look different?” Many times it’s because we think we’ll be more loved and accepted if we do. Do you know how many models have drug addictions and eating disorders? Beauty doesn’t equal happiness. This isn’t to say people don’t treat us differently based on our looks, but the important values (love, acceptance, happiness, kindness, etc.) all come from the inside.
No judgment. If you want to be kinder to yourself that also means you need to stop criticizing others. Many times we judge other people because we see things in them that we don’t like about ourselves.
Set an example. If you have children this is especially important, do you want them to grow up seeing you hate/judge your body and then in turn hate themselves? You can choose to be that positive light that teaches others it's okay to love themselves exactly as they are.
Social media cleanse. Go through Facebook/Instagram and if you follow people that make you feel bad about yourself, unfollow. If you're scrolling through your feed every day, have it be filled with things that motivate and inspire you.
Movement. Exercise because it feels good, not as a punishment! Do I love running? Nope, it hurts my knees and I’m never like “yay let’s go for a run” but once I do it, I feel AMAZING. The more you integrate exercise into your routine the better you feel about yourself. You may not be in as good of physical shape as you want, but you’re working towards it.
Meditation. The perfect practice for cultivating a deeper connection to your body, read the post on how to meditate to get started.
Mirror work. Practice standing in front of the mirror and tell yourself “I love you” till you truly mean it. Another exercise is to look at yourself and rewrite the negative thoughts, for example, "my thighs are so fat” becomes “I love that my strong thighs make me so good at running.” It can be difficult but stay patient with yourself and just practice.
Wear clothes that make you feel good. Wear clothes that fit you well and are flattering! Sometimes people use clothing as a way to hide, learn to use it to your advantage instead (I've learned a lot about this from watching Queer Eye!).
Talk to yourself like a friend. If you were talking to a friend, would you say the same things to her/him that you say to yourself? Can you imagine, “Wow, you’ve gained a lot of weight, look at those chicken wings.” “Jeez, you’re looking really wrinkly and old lately.” Yeah, I don’t think so, don’t talk to yourself like that either.
Ditch the scale. Seriously. Does it make you feel good when you get on that damn thing? I know for me if the number goes up, I instantly get a little upset. If you’re working to get in shape, muscle weighs more than fat anyway, use how your clothes fit or how you feel to measure progress instead
Be mindful of your food. Obviously food plays a big part in how our bodies look and this could be a whole post topic in itself! But to keep it short and sweet; honor your hunger and fullness (eat when you’re hungry and stop when you're full), be present when you eat, chew, use all your senses to enjoy, and 80% of the time eat whole foods that nourish your body and eat what makes you happy!
EFT Tapping. A simple yet effective exercise that is a good way of treating physical pain and emotional distress, learn more by clicking here and google things like “tapping for body image” for a guide.
Gratitude/Appreciate. Appreciate what you have. If you have legs that you can walk with, lungs that allow you to breathe, eyes to see the world in color, and ears to listen to music…you are very lucky and blessed, not everyone has those things. Taking time to write down why you're grateful for your body and what you appreciate is a great practice.
Read or watch. There are lots of books, articles, and videos out there on self-love and body positivity, so absorb anything and everything that you find helpful.
Support. Don't be afraid to ask for help! You can seek out a professional or simply ask friends to do things like help you find body positives, call you out when you're negative, and exercise with you. Surround yourself with others who have positive views on body image.
Cultivating self-love and body positivity isn’t achieved overnight, it is a practice and a journey. I would love for you to comment any additional tips or body experiences you have below. We are all in this together, so let’s work to create a world of love and kindness not just to others but also to ourselves.