Are you happy with the way you look?
Every single person in the world is different, and our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful. The media and popular culture are very skilled at making people feel like they are not good enough and they need to change. Adverts convince you that if only you buy this new lipstick or sign up for that gym membership then you’ll be attractive enough to fit in. But these messages are not coming from a place of truth, they are coming from a marketing team who wants you to spend as much of your money as possible on these products.
This fixation on looks is unhealthy, and it can have huge impacts on your mental wellbeing. Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies, and many have resorted to steps such as dieting and even cosmetic surgery to change the way they look. This can lead to reduced confidence and low-self esteem, and potentially more serious mental health concerns like anxiety and depression.
If you are dissatisfied with the way you look, you shouldn’t feel obliged to suddenly shed the pounds or search Google for “affordable cosmetic surgery.” The best way to feel better is not to change your appearance but to learn to love yourself for who you are.
To help you achieve this goal and boost your mental wellbeing, here are three tips to boost your body image.
Change your focus
It’s always good to exercise and stay healthy, but it is easy for it to become an unhealthy obsession. If you are constantly monitoring your body and checking the scales after every run in the park or nutritious meal, you’ll put yourself under undue stress. Change the focus from the negative to the positive and you’ll get more out of your healthy lifestyle. Next time you exercise, think about how good it feels to be outside. Enjoy the cooking process and the satisfaction in eating something you’ve prepared yourself and stop thinking about the calories.
Stop negative self-talk
It’s easy to look in the mirror and criticize aspects of your body that you don’t like. You might tell yourself your skin is too greasy or your belly is too big. But if you would never make such hurtful remarks to another person, you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, try to nip them in the bud before they take over. Instead, try to think of some more positive thoughts to replace them with. Perhaps take a moment to admire your glossy hair or perfect teeth.
Keep it in perspective
Whenever you feel unhappy with your appearance, remember that no one else is thinking these things. No one is scrutinising the way you look and making judgments other than yourself. Even some of the most beautiful A-list celebrities out there have had issues with their body image. The people you love value you as a person and would never measure you according to your appearance.