by Jennifer Ferren, LPC-MHSP, ACS | Ferren Family Counseling
There is a quote shared by Gabourey Sidibe: “One day I decided that I was beautiful and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. It doesn’t have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see. ”It’s a difficult message to hold on to. Especially with different messages coming through to us through TV, movies, social media, and our own friends, family, and others around us.
She looks so great in that dress, why can’t I look that good?
Looks like you gained some COVID pounds, didn’t you?
Are the bags under my eyes too noticeable?
With these messages being sent to us from within and out, accepting one’s own body
can be challenging.
There has been a lot of debate on accepting your body, and showing positivity towards different body types. The terms body confidence and body positivity are widely used, and can sometimes be confused as the same thing. A person’s confidence in how they look is often varied. When one has body confidence, they are content with how they look and how their bodies can perform. Whereas, body positivity is a social movement aimed at empowering people, as well as challenging how society portrays and interprets the physical body. The movement promotes acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, gender expression, color, or appearance.
Importance Of Body Confidence
Body confidence is crucial to work on for a variety of reasons. It can not only bring change in the way you look at your appearance but also highlight your capabilities. Having more confidence in your body can assist you in pushing outside of your comfort zone. And getting out of your comfort zone helps you grow by allowing you to take chances that promote progress.
Or you can say that the more you improve your body confidence, the more you love yourself and are able to focus on the many positive aspects of yourself. And when you concentrate on the positive aspects of life, you are more likely to reach your goals. Hence, body confidence can really help to enhance your well-being.
TIPS TO BOOST BODY CONFIDENCE
There are many ways to improve body confidence:
Say kind words to yourself
Begin praising yourself to boost yourself; your mind believes what you say, whether it is fact or imagined, and our brains can be jerks. Tell yourself that you are worthwhile, intelligent, and deserving. Be as compassionate to yourself as you are to your best friend.
Express some gratitude to yourself
Body confidence is not all about appreciating how you appear; it’s also about being appreciative of what you have. We might spend so much time nitpicking and criticizing our bodies that we lose sight of the fact that they are the thing that keeps us alive. Take a moment to reflect on all the wonderful things your body accomplishes for you. This encompasses your breathing, your senses, your movement, your emotions, and your humor. IT ALSO INVOLVES KEEPING YOU ALIVE.
Make friends with your reflection
You must become intimate with yourself to enhance your body confidence. This requires spending some time in front of the mirror. One of the effective ways is to note what you admire about yourself when you gaze in the mirror. Maybe your eyes, elbows, and feet are your favorite parts of your body. It doesn’t matter what it is; find at least one quality about yourself that you enjoy.
Even if you don’t like the way you look, start saying positive statements to yourself in the mirror. For instance, “I’m beautiful,” “I’m healthy,” “My eyes are pretty; ”you may not believe these statements at first, especially if you are prone to self-hate, but with time, you will start believing what you say. That is how your mind works.
Don’t look at the number
It’s good to be physically fit, but your mental health is so very vital. Stop staring at the numbers on the scales if they make you feel bad about yourself. You are so much more than those figures. If you want to enhance your health, you don’t need those scales to accomplish so. Without even glancing at the number, you can move in ways that feel wonderful.
Talk to a professional
Building one’s body confidence does not have to be done alone. Please know there are many wonderful, qualified medical and mental health professionals who can help you on your journey. If you are struggling with your body image or self-esteem, please, reach out. Resources for help can be made through your insurance provider, recommendations from families/ friends, or check out a Google search for help in your area.
In short, body image is not about having a thin waist, having a certain skin tone, having smooth hair, or anything else; it’s about being content in our own bodies. As a society, we have a long journey ahead as a community, as a culture – to accept and celebrate all bodies, regardless of gender expression, size, color, or ability. Above all, we need to recognize our own worth. We are more than what we look like.
Ferren Family Counseling
895 Cooper Street
Memphis, TN 38104
ferrenfamilycounseling.com
(901) 498-9126
