Negative Body Image: Understanding & Overcoming it

Our “selfie" culture and social media have made a specific body image in our eyes. Almost every one of us has one feature or character that we don't like about ourselves. And that social media has made the insecurities even worse.

Do you even remember when you last complimented yourself in front of the mirror? Or said anything nice about your body as it does plenty of amazing things for you everyday? Probably not. And You are not alone.

What you see every day on social media, the glamor, the celebrities, and the charm, can make you feel envious of others. In order to live up to that beauty standard, you may end up having negative feelings and judgments about yourself. This can be dangerous when it reaches a point where it diminishes your self-worth and body image.

Body image – the way you see and feel about your body. In other words, the thoughts and feelings you have about your body are part of your body image. And this body has nothing to do with appearance, as it is all about how we feel.

But this body image can be changed with time. One minute you are looking into the mirror all dressed up and happy about your makeup and dressing. The next few minutes you are all depressed about the wrinkles, freckles, pores and curves of your body.

Don't worry if you have such a negative body image. Most women struggle with this on a regular basis. Research has shown that women are more likely to be distressed about their appearance and weight. And according to a study, this dissatisfaction is higher during the premenstrual phase.

So, if you have also experienced these moments of negative body image, we are here to help you. We have come up with these four tricks that will help you change your body image and be happy with it.

Positive Self-talk:

The first thing you have to do is to expose yourself to your disliked body parts. While standing in front of the mirror, instead of letting your negative thoughts run wild, engage yourself in positive self-talk.

Remind yourself what are the things that you like most about your body, or what it is that makes it special and unique. Think of at least three such things and repeat them to yourself.

Think of something you are grateful for and vocalize it, just like

• "I am grateful for my legs that keep me going every day"
  

• "I am proud of my curved body as It has my babies."
  

It will make your day start with some positive views and energy.

Appreciate Your Body:

Your appearance should be the least important thing to you, but what your body is capable of should be the first and most important. If you don't feel appreciative, just imagine what it would be like if you weren't able to walk, drive, play, or have a baby.

Sometimes, a few moments of reflection and appreciation can provide an immediate relief from the negative thoughts and feelings of body image.

Write down the things you are grateful for or feel good about; it does not have to be something big – we aren’t all athletes or champions. Think about things like your favorite hobby, going with friends, playing with kids, and other things you like to do. Read this list to remind yourself what your body can do for you.

Change the Focus of Your Thoughts:

One thing that you should remember in every situation is that the thoughts and feelings you are having right now are temporary, and the same goes for body image. You don’t have to feel or think the same way about your body, instead retrain your mind to notice the good.

With a little practice, you can start focusing on the things that make you happy about your body instead of the problems that you cannot solve. For that, you can practice "yes and “ phrases:

• "My body doesn't feel like working more, and I am going to listen to my body."
  

• “I am having these negative thoughts about my body, and these will pass soon."
  

Trust us that "and" will make the first part of each sentence feel much better. So, the next time you experience the negative body image, pause and change the focus of your thoughts.

Have Positive People Around:

Maybe it is time for you to let go of all of those people who make you feel bad about yourself- the ones who comment on your body, tease you about your looks, and criticize what you are doing.

A negative impact on people can be a powerful trigger for a poor body image. That's because these people make you question yourself and ruin your self-esteem.

So, try to keep yourself surrounded by those who don't do this; instead, make you feel loved and appreciated. These people can be a reason for you to fully break out from your negative body image.

Final Words

Changing your image about your body is not a one day task, it takes a lot of patience and practice. It's because you have probably experienced these negative thoughts and feelings for a very long time, that these become a normal part of your life.

But they don’t have to be. So, once you start to appreciate and value your body for what it can do, not what it looks like, you will be much happier with a positive body image.