They bombard us with all types of bodies that are supposed to be beautiful, making us self-conscious about what we have because we are not like them. We have no chest, we lack muscles, we are fat or bald.
All this is the origin of many complexes and, also, a lack of self-esteem. We want to be like them, but we simply are not. We think “How unfair life is!”, without realizing that most of the covers of gossip magazines and television advertisements are the product of Photoshop-style digital programs.
Whatever the body we have, and as long as it is healthy, we must accept ourselves as we are. Here Let’s see how to enhance body acceptance.
It happens to all men and women that we are not comfortable with some part of our body. It is typical that women do not agree with the shape of their hips, the size of their chest or that they look too fat. Among men, there is a tendency to be dissatisfied with not having enough muscle or having an entry, among many other complexes.
The male and female canon of beauty are different, but not equally cruel. Trying to be like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt is equally complicated for both women and men, making them equally dissatisfied and constantly comparing themselves with others and, especially, with what the media bombards us with.
They have put it into our heads how we should be that things have become delusional. We look in the mirror and do not find what we would like to be, exaggerating our defects and considering that we do not deserve to be loved because we are simply not perfect. But perfection does not exist. Don’t be fooled, what you see on TV or on networks like Instagram is false, the product of digital image modification techniques. And if it hasn’t been photoshopped, it was the work of a scalpel. That beauty is not natural. Let us not envy the artificial.
Having said all this reflection, we move on to see a few tips on how to enhance body acceptance. The idea behind all this is that each body is the way it is, either because we were born that way or because some event in our lives, such as an accident or having suffered an illness, has left us scars. But scars are a symbol of survival, of being heroes and heroines. Beauty is something much more than just the sight of pretty things ; It is a much more complex, more transcendental concept.
A good exercise to be aware of the many good things we have is to make a list of at least 10 things that you like about yourself, considering your physical appearance, such as your smile, your hair, your hands, your legs.
More internal aspects should not be left aside, such as personality, which is what truly defines us, in addition to our intellectual abilities, such as our reasoning and ease with languages or mathematics, for example.
It’s a good idea to put this list somewhere visible in the house, like the bedroom door or on the refrigerator. Thus, every day you can read it and be aware of the many good things you have.
2. Eat well
Food is not your enemy, quite the contrary. It is evident that human beings need to eat to be able to live but, in addition, it is important to be beautiful and handsome to eat correctly.
A body that lacks nutrients is a body that can begin to have very serious health problems which can manifest in the form of hair loss, extreme thinness, skin with a yellowish tone…
Never stop eating to lose weight. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food, the best way to address it is to ask for professional help.
3. Be and surround yourself with positive people
Unfortunately, there are people who like to point out our flaws. It is very common that those who are not satisfied with their own body, instead of trying to address their own problems and show empathy towards others, prefer to bring others down. Let’s not be like them.
We must accept that each one is as they are. Almost no one falls within the canon of beauty that has been tried to be imposed on us. What we should not do is rejoice in the misery of others to try to boost our morale. Let’s not be bad people.
The best thing is to look for people who exude positivity and acceptance, who are very clear that, always within the healthy range, each person is as they are. Thus, if you find yourself in a bad moment you can turn to them to advise you and remind you how important you are.
In order to improve self-esteem and increase self-confidence, it is important to try to accept functional changes in case there have been changes derived from an illness, as well as the new body image.
This is especially useful in cancer patients, who may have lost some body part due to treatment, such as hair or their chest. This, in fact, can motivate the experience of a grieving process. Throughout such stages it may be useful to express emotions such as frustration, disappointment, hopelessness or anguish, to help mitigate psychological pain.
Once these phases have passed, it is good to try to make the effort to accept what the new body is like and understand that the body is still a packaging in which our soul is found. If we’re still alive, isn’t that what’s really important?
5. Pamper yourself
Many people with low self-esteem consider that it is not worth pampering themselves applying very harshly the saying that “even if the monkey dresses in silk she stays cute” and they stop going to the hairdresser, they don’t dress in pretty clothes or they go through everything.
Your body is worth it and deserves it. Put on makeup, dress well, get the piercing you wanted, get that tattoo that you loved so much… do everything you want that you consider beautifies your body.
If, on the other hand, you already see yourself beautiful as you are, good for you, you are satisfied with how you are. The important thing is not what you do and what you don’t do, but that you do it because you want to do it, because you want to pamper yourself.
6. Consider the problems that have affected your body image
What has made you look ugly or ugly in the mirror? Identifying any social pressure or personal issues that led to this situation can be especially helpful in directly addressing the source of the problem.
Factors such as having undergone surgery, having experienced physical or emotional abuse, being diagnosed with an eating disorder or having a physical defect are things that are difficult to modify, and the focus should be on the feeling, not the cause.
This is where seeking professional help is especially recommended, given that you can delve into this aspect in the appropriate way, allowing you to work on everything that serves to lead to body acceptance of yourself.
The media, whether television or social networks, very clearly influence our idea of beauty. Its influence is not at all insignificant. We are constantly bombarded with images of false ideal beauty, making us understand that what is not within that canon is imperfect.
Recognizing these messages that are used to sell all types of products is a good way to start the path of body acceptance. Understand that we cannot and should not feel envious of a model with a significant percentage of plastic in her body nor envy a photograph modified with Photoshop.
8. There is no equal body
We are not made from molds. Each one is as it is. There are thinner ones, there are fatter ones. There are higher ones and lower ones. There are bald ones and there are some with hair even in parts where it is normal not to have hair.
The human body is like the personality, There are individual differences and that is what gives the world color and variety. Beauty is not in the homogeneous and monochromatic, but in the diverse. We can see this as soon as we go out onto the street. There is no one who is the same.
Look at the bodies of others with an open mind and without prejudices and, thus, you will not apply them to yourself.
9. Exercise your body
Exercise is a fundamental aspect to contribute to greater acceptance of our own body. Not only because it will make us fitter, but because it will make our brain release endorphins which induce a state of emotional well-being.
These hormones are like a natural pill released by our body that makes us happier, and being happier directly correlates with being less critical of ourselves.
It is enough to find an exercise that we like and practice it for about 30 minutes a day, or simply walk for that period of time frequently. Just half an hour a day of moderate activity already induces changes in mental health.
10. Relax every day
Closely related to exercise, we have relaxation. This activity can help us feel more comfortable with our body, reducing tension and self-criticism.
Just 15 minutes a day is enough, finding a time of day when you can do this activity calmly. Being disconnected from the world for just that period of time can be a very good way to induce happiness that, in the long run, will make us accept ourselves as we are.
