Be Unapologetically Body Positive
Last week, I was at the office late one night. When I went into my cabinet to grab my bag and dash out the door, it wouldn’t open. I tried opening it over and over but it wouldn’t budge. Eventually, I got two co-workers to help me rip it open so I could grab my bag. The following day when the maintenance guy came to fix it he joked about me working out and being strong enough to open it. He proceeded to say that I should “stop working out so much because I’m getting too strong.” Classic example of someone shaming a woman’s body. I know he was probably joking but I think the message is clear. Too often, society reinforces the idea that women are expected to be damsels in distress, not strong and independent.
Being body positive is difficult for everyone but for women I think it’s an extra hurdle. A multitude of our likability comes from our appearance. Research shows females more than men experience a greater amount of social physique anxiety beginning at a young age. When you Google “body positive” you automatically get images of plus sized girls. It’s interesting that if you’re thin, you’re perceived to be body positive, because why wouldn’t you be? That’s simply not true, body positivity has more to do with your mindset than your body size. Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It’s about accepting all of yourself.
Here are my six tips to help you become unapologetically body positive:
1. Recite positive affirmations to yourself daily.
Write down 7 things you like about your body. Read those aloud everyday for 30 days and see how it impacts how you view yourself. It sounds silly but when I’m reading my affirmations to myself in the mirror, I can’t help but smile and feel more empowered to take on the day as the wonderful person I am.
2. Stop being so hard on yourself.
If you wouldn’t say it to a friend don’t say it to yourself. Sometimes I’m way to critical of myself. In those moments I question, would I tell my best friend what I’m saying to myself? If the answer is no then I reframe my thought.
3. Do not compare yourself to others.
With all the Instagram models that are constantly on my feed, it’s difficult to feel confident about my looks 24/7. When these thoughts come across my mind the first thing I do is log out of Instagram. Then I make my boyfriend compliment me… hahaha. I’m just joking, I actually remind myself that majority of images on Instagram are airbrushed, filtered, and shot with the best possible lighting. Thus, there’s no reason to compare my journey to the next persons. Don’t compare yourself to the flower next to you, just bloom.
4. Reframe flaws as benefits.
Everyone has flaws. Those stretch marks on your stomach are a badge of honor that you gave birth to a beautiful human. That scar on your leg is a badge of courage from when you learned how to ride a bike.
I used to hate my turned tooth. In my early teen years, I prayed for my tooth to naturally grow in. It was so bad I refused to smile in pictures from certain angles. Now I’ve grown to love it as something that makes me unique. Would I get a fake tooth put in one day? Maybe, when I’m rich. Am I happy with my smile now? I truly am, it’s one of my favorite things about myself. Embrace your quirks. As Tyra Banks would say, “Remember that flaws aren’t flaws, they’re what make you YOU! Embrace your beauty: big booty or big forehead!”
5. Stop stressing over your clothing size & the number on the scale.
This past weekend I went to a fun workout class. After the class, I was talking with a couple people about weight. We were all sharing that we can’t get past a certain number on the scale. Both of these people looked fantastic and not like the number of pounds they were saying they were. When it’s all said and done, unless a doctor is saying you need to be a certain weight to live, please stop stressing a number on a tag or on a scale. When I shop, I buy things that fit. Sometimes that’s a small and other times that’s a large, despite what the tag says, I wear things that make me feel good.
6. Don’t feel pressured to absolutely adore every inch of yourself.
No one loves everything about them all the time. That is absolutely okay! I don’t love my stomach and it’s something I know I can change. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been making the necessary alterations to my diet and workouts to obtain the abs I’ve always wanted. However, I don’t define myself by any body issue. Remember that your strength and self-worth are not dependent on your appearance but rather your mindset and self-confidence!
P.S. here are three of my favorite books to help increase your self-love:
- You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
- The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson