Love Your Body

The messages are all around us; on social media posts, magazine covers, television, and movies- that beauty is your worth. It is hard not to critique ourselves, when we live in a world that constantly and heavily emphasizes looks and outer appearance. From Kylie Jenner lip kits, to the pressure to look good immediately after having a baby, I’m not surprised I see so many individuals in therapy feeling these unrealistic expectations. Having these expectations can make teen girls and women feel less than their worth, creating low self-esteem. Social media posts of models and celebrities portray a false sense of security with the amount of followers and likes a person has on their Instagram/Facebook page. Is that really an accurate way to measure a person’s beauty? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

As a therapist, I often preach self-care to my clients. A part of that is of course loving yourself and loving your body. How do you do that?

Here are some tips to help you feel good about YOU and LOVE YOUR BODY:

• Create a list of all the things that your body lets you do. Be sure to read it aloud and add to it weekly.
• Be your body’s friend, not enemy!
• Honor your body. Respect your body.Respect and honor other bodies too. When you begin to see others as the beautiful people they are, you will have a much easier time loving who you are.
• Write positive notes to yourself and post them on your mirror. “You are beautiful” is just one example.
• Wear comfortable clothes that you like and that feel good to your body.
• Don’t let your weight keep you from participating in the activities you enjoy.
• Think about all the things you could enjoy and accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend worrying about your appearance.
• Reduce time spent on social media. Unfollow accounts that make you think any less of yourself.
• Increase positive social interactions with people or pets. Increased interactions allow you to talk about goals and dreams with others while listening to their stories. Interactions with pets help as you can focus your energy on that pet and not completely on yourself. You learn to give and take love unconditionally.
• Treat your body to a massage or a bath. It deserves it!
• Every night before you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate it for what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.

Love your body,

Jennifer