Hello friends!

Today we are going to talk about something a bit more serious and deep, which is body dysmorphia. According to my first google search, body dysmorphia is a mental health disorder in which a person can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. I may be going out on a limb here, but I can confidently say that most everyone has these thoughts cross their mind at times. Whether you’re 15 or 80 years old, I think we can all struggle with our self-image. I am not implying that experiencing these feelings from time to time, is or leads to a disorder. However, I feel it’s worthy of a discussion. I do however feel it’s somewhat normal to look at your body some days or at certain angles and just be confused, let down, or maybe frustrated. Again, we are human and this is normal. As a young adult, these thoughts cross my mind every day. We all want to look our best and look thin, fit, or even more muscular. In my blog, I promote being intentional with my health goals and hope you have great health goals for yourself as well. However, let’s face it, some days it’s really hard to feel good about ourselves no matter how intentional we are. Recently, my friends and I have challenged each other to say three positive things we like about our appearance anytime a negative thought about our body occurs. 

Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies, and 71% of men feel the same way. Friends, this is a very high percentage. But this doesn’t surprise me, because I also fall into this category. We all want to look and feel better, right? My encouragement for you is to try to be content with your body and practice self-compassion. This doesn’t mean don’t push yourself with your personal goals, because you should. But rather don’t beat yourself up because you don’t look like the jacked woman or guy you see on your Instagram feed. God made you so beautifully, and your body is so unique and unlike any other. Becoming stronger or more fit is a process and a lifestyle. So if you’re someone that is struggling with your body image, feeling discouraged, or not seeing results in the gym, I encourage you to be easy on yourself. Give yourself some grace! Eat the damn cookie or pasta. Having a good balance of listening to what your body wants and pushing yourself physically is healthy. 

Something that I find crucial to becoming physically healthy is putting your mental health first. You not only want to look good, but you want to feel good as well. Comparison robs you of your joy! With social media being so relevant in our lives, comparison can be a hard thing to tackle. The quote, “You can appreciate the beauty of others without questioning your own,” comes to mind. This is something I have to constantly remind myself. 

We live in a beauty-obsessed world that perpetuates the idea that your happiness and ability to be loved are dependent on how you look. Something I know so many people may struggle with is the body fat we may contain. For years I have been saying, “I just want my little pouch to disappear.” If you have a little pouch like me or not, having body fat is a highly specialized organ, critically important for your health and longevity. We need some fat, my friends. Instead of self-criticizing or loathing your body…start thanking your body for all the wonderful things it allows you to do.

Appreciate all the simple pleasures of life like taking walks, playing with your kids or friends, traveling, or getting to exercise. Wow…I’m so guilty of taking these things for granted! I have come up with a couple of tips to help remind yourself that you are beautifully made.

1. Identify and challenge your negative thoughts.
   • The first step is to overcome the negative thoughts that pass through your mind. The things that we tell ourselves often take root and become repetitive. These statements are often opinions about ourselves, not facts. Don’t believe the lies your brain is telling you.
2. Appreciate your body for everything it is capable of.
   • One of the best ways to improve your body image is to see your body in a positive light. Let’s start focusing on what our bodies can do and all its abilities. 
3. Repeating affirmations
   • It can be very difficult to focus on all the positive aspects of our body, but we need to start repeating affirmations about ourselves every day. For example, “I am strong, confident, and loyal.”
4. Avoid comparisons
   • Body dissatisfaction often comes from comparisons to peers and celebrities. Everyone’s body is unique and beautiful in its own way. We must start surrounding ourselves with body-positive people. 

We all take so much for granted in our lives, share below what you will be more thankful for this week!

 How do I improve my body image? Seeds of Hope. (2021, December 10). Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://seedsofhope.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/how-to-improve-your-body-image/