How can I feel more confident in my body?

Feelings of body insecurity are common, but if we are constantly criticizing our body it can take a toll on our mental health. Body insecurities can lower self-esteem, cause anxiety, and result in feelings of self hatred. It is important to catch yourself when you have such negative thoughts and try to put a stop to them right there. Take those thoughts and turn them into something positive. Remember all that your body does for you and appreciate it. Our bodies have been putting up with our hectic lives for years. Our body helps us breathe, eat, work, attain our goals, and complete our day to day tasks. Therefore, it is not fair to treat our body with such negativity or take it for granted. The next time you look at yourself in the mirror, focus on the things that you love about yourself rather than focusing on things that make you feel insecure.

Secondly, it is important to remember that social media often promotes unrealistic body images. We often compare ourselves to pictures on social media showing “perfect” bodies and feel that we are not good enough. Unrealistic body images portrayed on social media have played a huge role in creating body negativity in today’s society. Before comparing yourself to others on social media, question the reality behind it. Is that ‘perfect’ body on social media healthy? Is it realistic to attain? Has the picture been edited?

Furthermore, it is important to adopt hobbies and take part in activities that make you feel good about yourself. These could be things like working out, meditation, drawing, reading, dancing, going out with friends, etc. It is also important that you hang out with the right people that make you feel good about yourself. The company of people who criticize you can be toxic and can bring down your confidence. It is better to distance yourself from anyone that makes you feel that you're not good enough and from those who lower your self-esteem. Letting go of insecurities and gaining confidence takes time and may seem like a lot of work at first. However, over time as we practise self-love and learn to catch negative self-talk, we can become more confident in our own body.

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Author: Anonymous