Ideal Image

Raise your hand if you have a positive body image of yourself; I am sure out of a group of 10 only 2 may have raised his or her hand. What is body image? Body image is the way you perceive yourself and how you think others perceive you. From toddlers, labels are attached that begin to define body image and sense of self.

• Chubby – fat, chunky, big, hefty, plump • Pretty – cute, handsome, beautiful, attractive • Skinny – thin, lean, bony, scrawny • Tall, short, dark, pale, tomboy, girlie, athletic…the list goes on.

All of these labels put individuals into a box. That box becomes the method used to define ourselves and the people around us. That box is very restricting, self-defeating and often cruel. Body image can have you on an emotional roller-coaster because there are many factors that contribute to how you feel or view yourself.  Trying to overcome negative body image is a painful process because what society views as beauty or what we should look like constantly change depending on the year or season we are in the world. This makes it very challenging for one to keep up or every feel satisfied. So many males and females struggle with body image, causing an increase in depression and eating disorders.  We all know what causes body image issues, now let’s talk about some tips that can help with having a negative body image.

First thing is stop running from looking at the mirror! It is time to stop avoiding the full body mirrors. You have to get comfortable and get use to what your body looks like.  At times in our minds we look completely different than what we actually look like. Let the imagination go and face the reality.

You must also put body image into perspective.  Is image really all that matters? Yes our appearance means something to ourselves and others, but what really makes you unique and beautiful as a person is your character; all that great stuff that is within you. A person with a larger heart will make a greater impact than a person with the larger assets. Let’s be honest with so many other important things in your life and the world, the least of your worries should be the size of your thighs. Place your energy and worries into other things.

Sometimes we also forget that there are these things called genetics that is out of our control, and it is very hard to fight against them. Know your body and own it. Does all females in your family have large thighs? Or are the men in your family on the shorter end of height? Some traits can be controlled through working out or be cautious of what you eat, but first you have to be aware and know your body. Other things such as your height, we have to own it. I do not think there is a magic cure that can control an individual’s height, so knowing these things why beat yourself up about it? Just own it!

Stop being judgmental. When you see another person, you must stop negatively judging their bodies. This does nothing but add or heighten the awareness of your own image. What happens is, now if you feel you have a similar look or traits you are going to automatically think negatively about your image when in fact you may look completely different.  

Believe it or not, dating helps. As humans, we love compliments and need to get them to help keep our confidence. If you are saying to yourself that you do not care about compliments, you are not being truthful to yourself. When you initially meet someone and there is an attraction, the attraction came from the physical attraction initially. The person liked what they saw. This now reinforces or validates any positive thoughts and images of your body.

Remember that your body and image is APART of you, but it is not the only component that MAKES you. I want you to SEE yourself, LOVE yourself, and ACCEPT yourself unconditionally.