The importance of Body Positivity and Body Image
By: Louise Rogers
Tags: Self Care, Happiness In Life, Body, Body Positive, Self Love

Everyone deserves to be happy in their body and their mind. We spend our whole life working for that goal. But this does not ​imply that it is an easy path to take, especially in today’s society, where the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle is shaped by societal standards of appearance and acceptability. So how on earth are we supposed to do that? There’s no short magic answer, to be honest. However, there may be a way to make the journey easier.

Photo by Gantas Vaičiulėnas on Unsplash

So what is Body Positivity?

Body Positivity means accepting your body, the way it is, as well as accepting the changes that it may have in the future, depending on size, shape, age, nature, genetics, personal choices, regardless of how society and popular culture view ideal shape, size, and appearance. Embracing body positivity is a radical act of self-care and self-love.

Body Positivity aims at challenging how society views the body and promoting the acceptance of all bodies.

Body image refers to a person’s subjective perception of their own body, which may be different from how their body actually appears. Feelings, thoughts, and behaviors related to body image can have a major impact on your mental health and how you treat yourself.

For instance, depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders are problems that can emerge from poor body image.

I am someone who struggled with body image issues, and still do from time to time. To be honest, there has been a moment in my life when I couldn’t bear looking in the mirror for several days because I would have burst into tears if I had.

One of the main objectives of Body Positivity is to look at how the body image affects mental health and well-being. People’s feelings about their appearance and even how they judge their self-worth are influenced by their body image.

Okay, let’s talk about something a little more controversial. It is common knowledge that society has appearance and acceptability expectations, and its perceptions of individuals are shaped not only by their physical size and form, but also by their race, gender, sexuality, and disability. When you understand that happiness requires a sense of self-worth and a general sense of contentment with life, it becomes clear which societal expectations are healthy and which are not.

How does society and social media influence people’s body image?

I could talk about a number of unique ways in which society and social media influences the perception I have of myself, yet it all comes down to one thing: social media shapes one’s body image, often making you despise your own in the process.

For instance, we didn’t care if we were chubby or tiny when we were babies. We didn’t give a damn about how our hair or how our skin looked that day. When we are young, we’re more concerned with living life to the fullest rather than worrying about how our jeans fit or whether we’re wearing enough makeup.

One of the reasons we became distracted from living and enjoying life to the fullest is because every day, our minds are bombarded with messages telling us that we are not suitable unless and until we meet a certain standard.

Over the years, there has been a lot of discussions about how the mainstream media portrays unrealistic beauty ideals. With influencers filling up our social media feeds, it’s safe to believe that social media isn’t always helping our body image in a positive way.

Furthermore, the influencers’ feeds aren’t the only ones that can negatively affect our body image. The posts of distant peers or acquaintances have the same effect on body image issues as celebrities’ feeds, according to a survey on 227 female university students.

If you think about it, people show a one-sided version of their lives online. When you know someone well, you’ll notice that they’re just showing the highlights, but if you only know them casually, you won’t be able to tell.

The truth, though, is much more nuanced than we expect. It would be unreasonable to criticize all aspects of social media. Actually, social media can be a great platform for promoting body positivity, and creating a safe community. There might be ways to organize your Instagram feed to help you feel better in your own body, or at the very least, to prevent you from feeling worse.

Of course, as I previously said, the use of social media does seem to be linked to body image issues, which is particularly problematic when it comes to negative body image thoughts. However, if you use social media correctly, it may be a rocket launcher of positive body image and healthy thoughts.

You have to build the world in which you are evolving wisely, rather than accepting the stereotypical and unrealistic universe society and social media have put you in. There is some content out there that is actually beneficial to body image that you can follow.

Is it easy to adopt a body-positive mindset?

Certainly not. Simply telling people to embrace themselves and to be resilient in the face of images that promote the thin, slim waisted, curved, and nice skin ideal can be harmful.

Telling people to ignore the dominant beauty ideal isn’t realistic.

Popular culture tells us that we are flawed, but we are somehow expected to have a positive attitude about it. Feeling positive about your body can be misinterpreted and turned into an obligation or a simple trend you should follow, whereas not feeling positive about your body can lead to shame and guilt. Just because a lot of people in your life act or think in a certain way doesn’t mean it’s normal or healthy, or that they know how to be happy and successful.

I’m not saying that you should not say nice things to yourself and think positively about yourself, but that simply masking negative thoughts with positive messages is not the right path to a healthier mindset.

Working on replacing negative thought patterns with more realistic ones would be a better approach. You have to let go of those expectations and habits that give you constant feelings of insecurity and embrace the ones that bring you inner peace and self-acceptance. It means acknowledging that strict ways of judging yourself must be abandoned in favor of sensible and realistic approaches to health and appearance in terms of body size, weight, and eating.

It’s okay to admit that you don’t love each aspect of your body. It’s ok to feel neutral or even indifferent about your body. Body image does play a part in self-concept, but it isn’t everything.

You know, none of these things are easy. The truth is that it takes time and a lot of effort to develop a positive-body attitude. (I’m personally still struggling and figuring this out.)

It takes continual effort and, in most cases, it’s not something you can perfectly achieve. There will be times when you feel vulnerable, dislike certain aspects of yourself, or compare yourself to others. The key is to keep trying to come up with new ways to avoid the negative thought patterns that lead to negative body image.

Self-care is described as a deliberate action taken to improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Self-care can take many forms. It could be ensuring you get enough sleep every night, or taking a sip of a hot cup of tea while reading your favorite book, or stepping outside for a few minutes for some fresh air.

Self-care may be misinterpreted as a way of modifying or controlling your appearance, but it should instead focus on behaviors that make you feel comfortable in your current body, whether it is mentally, emotionally or physically.

It’s important to remember that the body and mind are tightly connected. You’ll think and feel better if you take care of your body. Show respect for your body. Eat healthy meals because it fuels your mind and body, not because you want to lose weight. Exercise because it helps you feel strong and energized, not because you’re trying to change or control your body. Your body’s size and shape may change in the future, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to look and feel good about yourself right now. Try following accounts that embrace all body sizes, shapes, colors, genders, and abilities. Set your own healthy standards for weight and eating.

Look for things that make you feel comfortable and confident in your body and your mind. Allowing society to dictate what is acceptable to you if it means sacrificing your self-worth, happiness, or quality of life is not an option.

SOURCES

Oakes, Kelly. « The Complicated Truth about Social Media and Body Image. », Future BBC

Rodriguez, Lavinia. « Don’t Let Society Set Standards for Your Health, Happiness ». Tampa Bay Times

Cherry, Kandra. « Why Body Positivity Is Important ». Verywell Mind

Scott, Elizabeth. « 5 Self-Care Practices for Every Area of Your Life ». Verywell Mind