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How do you feel about your body? If you don’t immediately answer “Great!” with a smile – don’t worry, you’re not alone! This is a very common problem for people today, especially women.
If you’re feeling unattractive and down about your body, read on to find out how you can improve how you feel about yourself. It doesn’t matter what size you are – you are always deserving of love and respect, especially from yourself!

If you are sick of stressing about your body, these tips are for you. When you learn to listen to and respect your body, you are better able to take care of it. Doing so will improve your mood and outlook on life!

TIP #1: Appreciate all that your body can do.

We take for granted what our body does for us each day, whether that’s simply being strong enough to carry us through our days or giving us the ability to hug our loved ones. This can be tough to do given that we live in an appearance-obsessed culture. Nowadays there’s so much emphasis on body image, results and outcomes, but really what we should be after is to be healthy and to feel good about ourselves.
One powerful way to feel better about our body involves simply shifting our perspective. Instead of focusing on how our body looks, we can feel grateful for what our body can do.

‘Your body is your home. Your body will take care of you the best that it can, and it’s so worthy of your love for that alone. Give your home a hug from me’

TIP #2: Remind yourself that true beauty comes from within.

You might be thinking that’s such a cliché but think about it, what real friend cares about how small or tall your legs are or how many pimples you’re having on your face. Someone wants to be your friend because of your inner strengths like kindness, sense of humor, honesty, and encouragement.

Also, life is about so much more than how we look. Yet, how we feel about our bodies can dictate our mood and our behaviours.

‘When you feel good about yourself and who you are, you carry yourself with a sense of confidence, self-acceptance, and openness that makes you beautiful. Beauty is a state of mind, not a state of your body.’

TIP #3: Wear clothes that fit and that you are comfortable with.

Respect your body by wearing clothes that fit and feel comfortable. Toss away all the clothes that don’t fit anymore including your old, baggy clothes that hide your entire body and yes, even those skinny jeans you’re still hoping to wear some day. Box up, donate or sell those old clothes. A wardrobe filled with clothes that fit will bring you much more joy. Do not buy clothes that are too small because you are hoping you will ever fit them instead buy clothes that fit in order to accept your current body size. Stop body checking and focussing on the body parts you wish you could change or minimise, instead find clothing that accentuate your favourite body parts and flatter your overall figure. See yourself as a whole person, not an imperfect body part. Know that you can always buy new clothes if your body changes. 

TIP #4: Filter your social media feed

The world was a lot simpler when there was no internet. With advertisements and images of a specific body type constantly bombarding us wherever we are or whatever we’re doing—on television, on our phones, on social media, on our commutes and while we’re out shopping—it’s easy to see how we can begin to feel bad about our bodies.

Pay attention to images, slogans, or attitudes that make you feel bad about yourself or your body. Consider muting or unfollowing accounts or hashtags that cause you to feel negatively about your body or appearance or encourage you to compare yourself unfavourably to others, and look for accounts that represent body types of all shapes, sizes and cultures.

If you still find it stressful after you have done the above, consider uninstalling your social media app(s).  

Remind yourself that many media images are unrealistic and unattainable for the vast majority of people (and even for the subject of the image, thanks to Photoshop!). Also, just because someone looks ‘perfect’ on the outside, doesn’t mean they have a perfect life. No one has a perfect life, we all struggle. That’s just what being human is.

For example, take a bubble bath, get a massage or wear nice lotions or colognes. Your body deserves to be nourished. Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying about your body and your weight to do something positive for your body. If you want to work on your body, do it with love. Don’t work hard because you hate your body, work hard because you love your body; it’s your only home.

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I hope this blog has given you some valuable information and useful suggestions on how to improve your body image, but most of all I hope that this piece has reminded you that you can love yourself exactly as you are. One list cannot automatically tell you how to turn negative body thoughts into positive body image, but it can introduce you to healthier ways of looking at yourself and your body. The more you practice these strategies, the better you will feel about who you are and the body you naturally have.

If you’re in the middle of a downward spiral of body negativity, please know that you’re not on your own, and your feelings are quite common! There are many people out there struggling with the same issues, and I’m here for you if you need any help with this. Learning to accept your body on your own is absolutely possible, yes, but it’s also so much more challenging than doing it with the support of someone who has lived experience and understands your struggles.

Get in touch and schedule a no-cost 20-minute chat via 
Linda@nourishedforgrowth.com

‘When your body image is positive, you are able to accept, appreciate, and respect your body. You won’t necessarily avoid feeling any insecurities or think your body is perfect, but you will be able to acknowledge any insecurities for what they are and believe that your body is perfect for you. When you have a positive body image, you understand that your sense of self-worth does not depend on your appearance.’

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TIP #5: Do something nice for your body – something that lets your body know you appreciate it.

For example, take a bubble bath, get a massage or wear nice lotions or colognes. Your body deserves to be nourished. Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying about your body and your weight to do something positive for your body. If you want to work on your body, do it with love. Don’t work hard because you hate your body, work hard because you love your body; it’s your only home.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I hope this blog has given you some valuable information and useful suggestions on how to improve your body image, but most of all I hope that this piece has reminded you that you can love yourself exactly as you are. One list cannot automatically tell you how to turn negative body thoughts into positive body image, but it can introduce you to healthier ways of looking at yourself and your body. The more you practice these strategies, the better you will feel about who you are and the body you naturally have.

If you’re in the middle of a downward spiral of body negativity, please know that you’re not on your own, and your feelings are quite common! There are many people out there struggling with the same issues, and I’m here for you if you need any help with this. Learning to accept your body on your own is absolutely possible, yes, but it’s also so much more challenging than doing it with the support of someone who has lived experience and understands your struggles.

Get in touch and schedule a no-cost 20-minute chat via 
Linda@nourishedforgrowth.com

‘When your body image is positive, you are able to accept, appreciate, and respect your body. You won’t necessarily avoid feeling any insecurities or think your body is perfect, but you will be able to acknowledge any insecurities for what they are and believe that your body is perfect for you. When you have a positive body image, you understand that your sense of self-worth does not depend on your appearance.’

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