It is sometimes a difficult task to maintain body positivity in our day and age. We are often bombarded with images of celebrities, Instagram models, brand commercials with fit individuals, and a constant reminder of what society may perceive as physically attractive. A lot of this negative mindset feeds into our own physical fitness, where we gage our own progress based on how we may look compared to the other images we see thrown at us. Often, we unironically end up engaging in a negative form of body positivity, even if we think we are encouraging body positivity with ourselves. We use images of other people as “positive goal inspirations” without considering the ramifications it has on our self image. Some people may use those bodies not as goals but as ways to attack themselves for not being able to achieve that vision quick enough. It can quickly go from body positivity to body negativity.

However, the most important thing to remember at this stage is that body positivity does not have to ever correlate to how top notch your physical appearance is. Fitness and wellness has an endless amount of factors that influence an individual, and being “conventionally attractive” or “toned and fit” does not always mean an individual has a positive self-image nor are they the universal standard for “health.” It is very important to not be deceived by any negative body positivity because it can directly affect your physical activity and progress. Individuals who have a healthy, positive body image are most likely to commit to and engage in fitness and wellness practices of various kinds than those who perceive themselves and their bodies negatively.

There are several factors to keep in mind in order to maintain healthy body positivity, and not fall into any negative mindset traps of self-image.

Love and thank your body.

Thank your body for what it does for you on a daily basis. It provides support, helps you move around, gives you the strength to perform the tasks you need to do, and does its very best to protect you from illness and injury. Your body loves you and cares for you, so thank it once in a while for this process.

Focus on what your body can do.

Can you walk up a flight of stairs? Can you hike or walk around the block? Are you able to get out of bed in the morning and back into bed at the end of the day? Can you simply raise your hand to grab a glass of water? All of these things may feel minor but are functions that our bodies allow us to do through its support. No matter how small the behavior or movement, we should recognize the beauty in having that support from our body.

Check yourself when you feel the urge to point out flaws or compare to others.

We live in a media hell storm. That is no secret. The images we see daily make it difficult to stop ourselves from comparing to other people. However, we do have control over how we respond to these mental urges that are ingrained in our head. If we are looking in a mirror and immediately feel an inner thought to negatively comment on or critique our bodies or parts of our bodies, take a second to pause and sit on that voice that emerged. Combat it. What does that body part help you with daily? If you are comparing yourself to another, remember that every body is different and that often what we see online or via television is not the reality of everyone’s circumstance. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are beautifully existing just fine.

Accept healthy, happy bodies have no definite shape or size.

In addition to the media issues mentioned previously, we tend to see only one body type receiving a lot of attention and praise in media and rarely others. Ignoring the media, which is largely a false perception of reality, beauty comes in unique shapes and sizes. Health is such a wide concept that it is impossible to place it into one physical appearance. Health is not only physical, but mental, and spiritual. Having a good check up at the doctor’s office matters a lot more than impressing people online with a body that others define as “good” or “attractive.”

Create your own definitions and perceptions of beauty, without external influences.

If you didn’t see any movies, tv shows, or posts online, what do you think your opinion of yourself would be? If you didn’t have any friends or family comment on you or your appearance, or feed ideas of what “beauty” is, what do you think you would think of yourself? Honestly, a lot of our own negative perceptions of ourselves and our bodies are ingrained ideals fed to us from external sources, and not our own opinions and emotions of ourselves. Remember this and change it from the root. Beauty is creative and dynamic. External messages do not hold power. YOU do.

Lastly, focus on HEALTH not PHYSICAL RESULTS.

This may be repeating a few of the messages above but it is one of the most important messages to remember. Physical results are not the solution to existing healthily. They may be for some, but for most of us as human beings, MANY aspects of health need to be taken care. Having a more defined stomach doesn’t take all your problems away and mean you are the epitome of a healthy individual. Do you FEEL good, happy, and strong when you perform a certain exercise? Do you notice you can lift groceries a bit easier one week versus the one before? Do you get better sleep? Are you feeling better when eating a bit cleaner? THESE are the results to look out for, as they encompass a lot more aspects of “health” than simple physical/surface-level alterations.

Altogether, a positive body image and mindset understands that we all have unique beauty and bodies. Appreciating our bodies for providing us life and support everyday helps us to instead focus on what our bodies do to help US feel good and healthy. “Looks” are so minimal in importance compared to what our beautiful bodies do for us, even on a smaller scale, every single day.

References:

https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/health-fitness-resources/body-image-and-physical-activity/

https://mirror-mirror.org/body-image/healthy-body-images

https://www.iup.edu/health-wellness/campaigns/love-your-body/

https://www.lisaraleigh.com/blogs/all-blogs/9-ways-to-be-more-body-positive