5 Ways to Develop and Maintain a Positive Relationship With Your Body

Do you think you have a positive relationship with your body?

Our bodies are constantly changing, and sadly, society tells us that our bodies are only acceptable when they look a certain way.

Anything else other than that ‘perfect’ body needs to be changed or at least hidden by all means. 

Because we are constantly fed this information, we start to develop a negative relationship with our bodies as we see more ‘imperfections’ every day. We start telling ourselves that we would be happier if our bodies looked a certain way.

In some unfortunate cases, we even go on to change our diets in an unhealthy manner or engage in extreme exercise just to achieve that ‘perfect’ body. 

Do you not like your body and wish you could change at least just one thing about it?

You’re not alone. Research has shown that up to 84% of women in America are not happy with their bodies at some point in their lives. 

I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with these women’s bodies. I think they haven’t mastered the magic of loving their bodies. It is not easy, but it can be done, and the ways listed in this article are a good starting point. 

5 Simple Ways to Cultivate a Positive Relationship With Your Body

1. Cleanse your social media feed.

This was a big and life-changing step for me.

I realized that every time I was on social media, I was scrolling past super slim celebrities and models. At first, it seemed harmless, but after some reflection, I realized that subconsciously, I wanted to be like them. I thought being slim and having just the right amount of fat in the right places would make me happier. 

My self-love was pathetic. I decided to unfollow all accounts that made me feel miserable about myself and replaced them with positive and empowering ones. Over time, my self-image changed, and I started to appreciate my body more. 

2. Don’t be judgmental.

If you judge other people based on what their bodies look like, you will most likely also judge yourself for what your body looks like.

Understand that people are more than just one type of body and apply the same principle to yourself.

Focus on getting to know people or who they are and be accepting. Once you start doing this to others, you will notice that you will also start appreciating yourself for who you are, not what your body looks like. 

3. Let go of perfection.

Sometimes we want things to be a certain and perfect way.

The perfectionist mindset, which is often accompanied by the all-or-nothing mindset and imposter syndrome can be draining and demotivating. You might find yourself taking an hour to get ready, because unless you look like that Pinterest model, you are not perfect enough to leave the house. 

Ditch that mentality and accept things as they are with their imperfections. This mentality will also transfer to how you view yourself as an individual. You will see all the ‘imperfections’ pointed out by society, but you will still view yourself as worthy and more than the imperfections. 

4. Focus on your health rather than weight.

Engage in a lifestyle that is healthy for you.

The diet or workout regime you choose should be focused on ensuring that you are healthy, rather than how much you weigh. As long as you feel good, physically and psychologically, there is no need for you to stress yourself about your weight. Focus on your overall health, not weight. 

5. Appreciate your body

Our bodies do so much for us, and we often take that for granted and focus on the things we wish we could change. Challenge yourself and take some time to appreciate every part of your body for what it is capable of doing. 

Appreciate your stomach for being the soft spot your kids like to cuddle, your thick thighs for allowing you to move around and your nose for making it possible for you to breathe rather than focusing on how you wish your stomach was firmer, your thighs were smaller with less cellulite, and your nose looked different.

Paying attention to what your body does will help you see that its ‘imperfections’ are way less than its perfections. 

What it Means to Have a Positive Relationship With Your Body

Having a positive relationship with your body allows you to accept and be comfortable with it, despite all the noise about why you shouldn’t.

It will do wonders for your self-confidence and ultimately allow you to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. Little things like being selective with the content you consume on social media and appreciating what your body is capable of can have massive beneficial long term results. 

Having a healthy relationship with your body means different things for different people. Strive to make sure that the relationship you have with yourself is similar to the one you want to have with a significant other. 

Remember to be kind to yourself and take one day at a time!

Photo by cottonbro