Some people automatically love the skin they are in. They have some self-confidence and love their body. But for the vast majority, learning to love your body is a process that takes time and a lot of effort. Social standards and impossible concepts around beauty have left many of us with fragmented and broken images of ourselves. Unlearning these stigmas and unhealthy perceptions about bodies and what is beautiful takes time, but it is entirely possible. Taking dedicated steps to love yourself from head to toe can really make a difference in how you feel from day to day. The journey of self-love begins when you decide that you are ready to accept yourself for exactly who you are and build on this concept of self-acceptance. If you’re looking to improve your self-image and love yourself more, check out these 7 Ways to Love Your Body.
Stay engaged.
One of the most important aspects of loving your body is staying committed to the journey. Unlearning years of negative thoughts and unhealthy habits won’t change overnight. It won’t be easy and it will take time, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Let go of the obsession with looking a certain way.
Your preoccupation with looking a certain way is probably not even your own thought. You have probably been taught to think that a particular body style is more attractive from the point of view of society. Forget the notion that any body type other than your own is more desirable. Instead of trying to adapt your body to an unrealistic external system, let your body know it’s perfect by internally turning off this mental switch.
Stop judging other people by their bodies and perceived imperfections.
In order to stop judging your own body, you have to let go of the judgmental nature of judging other people’s bodies as well. The harsh critic in your head needs to be silenced and taught better habits on all levels. When you can start to talk and think positively about other people’s appearance, you can do the same for yourself.
Purge your social media of all negative reinforcement.
When you are on a self-healing journey, you need to be very conscious of the content you consume. This is a delicate and critical time to keep your mind positive. Get rid of any accounts or content that make you feel bad about your body or impose unhealthy beauty stigmas.
Get to know your body intimately.
How much time have you really spent getting to know your body? Take the time to get to know your curves, your spikes, your moles, your dimples, and all the beautiful details in between. Even take the time to learn your body language, what it’s trying to tell you when you have physical ebbs and flows throughout the day. Knowing your body and speaking the same language will make you feel closer and more connected to your physical self.
Do something good for your body every day.
Practice loving yourself every day. This includes doing something special or nice for your body to help it recognize that it is loved and to remind you that you love it. This can be stretching, giving a foot or hand massage, soaking in a tub, or wearing clothing that is pleasing to the senses (such as plush socks).
Date your body!
This may sound strange, but in reality this just means giving your body new experiences. Go for a walk, try a new dance class, hike a new trail, or try new foods. By creating new and positive experiences with your body, you expose yourself and your body to new things and you can demonstrate all that your body is capable of. This also helps create new neural pathways in your brain that tell you that you love your body and all the beautiful experiences it allows you to have.
