Do you have a healthy or unhealthy body image?

Do you have a healthy or unhealthy body image? How do you know? You may have an unhealthy body image if your self-esteem arises from how you look. If you focus on characteristics of your body that you don’t like or continuously compare yourself to images on social media which are often staged and edited, you may have negative automatic thoughts about how you look. We all have imperfections but rather than focusing on them, if you take into account all of your positive characteristics, you may find that you are so much more than simply how you look.

Things to consider if you believe you have a negative body image…

Where do your negative feelings about your body come from? How has your body image been shaped by family, friends, the media, social media? Friends, family, peers, elders etc. may impact your body image through unintentional small comments or actions. The media sends powerful messages to everyone about how our bodies are supposed to look. Social media exposure and use can dramatically lower one’s self-esteem and lead to negative body images.
Sometimes, you may find yourself comparing yourself to other people or images of people you see on social media. But, everything on social media is a construct. It is constructed for a purpose…. And the effects on your self-esteem can be devastating.

Try this…..

Try noticing every time you find yourself comparing your body to someone else’s. When this happens, try saying something different to yourself like, “I’m comparing myself to someone else again.” Just notice that you’re doing it.

Then try comparing yourself in a different way than you usually do. If you compare yourself to the first few people you see in a day, what kinds of things do you look at? Try comparing other, less sensitive aspects of yourself. These will be different for everyone, but may include aspects such as sense of humour, or other specific personality traits.

With your next social comparison that you make, try asking yourself something like, “How can I treat myself with compassion right now?” or “What else could I focus on?” (such as the conversation or qualities of their personality).

If you’re struggling with poor body image and low self-esteem, try to be kind to yourself and live with gratitude and harmonious thoughts.