We’ve come to the end of June, and “summer” is steadily approaching. That usually means many of us have been working out just in time for the holidays. A lot of us won’t be going abroad, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the UK sun when it decides to visit again, right?!
It doesn’t matter if you’re a young woman or even a man in society today. You may feel pressured to have a specific body type or work towards a body goal that is not naturally obtainable, but because it’s popular on social media.
These pressures can feel like they come out of nowhere. Even if you’re confident in yourself and your body, some days, something could trigger that and affect your mental health. Speaking from experience, most of the time, I don’t see much wrong with my body image. But! That’s not to say that I hadn’t experienced times when I thought I was too “fat” or too “skinny” and overall uncomfortable with how I look. Sometimes we put in our heads an unachievable fitness goal or we’re disappointed that we haven’t seen the results we want. But I think we need to stop being so hard on ourselves!
As I’ve gotten to my mid-20’s, it feels so weird writing that because in my mind, I still feel 22 and then some days I feel like I’m ready for my 30’s! But I digress… As I’ve gotten older, my body shape has completely changed to what it was in my late teens/ early twenties. I’ve noticed my hips are wider, and so is my waist, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still living a healthy lifestyle. And I may be more bloated on some days than others, but that shouldn’t stop me from feeling beautiful.
It can be hard to get out of that funk that your body isn’t good enough. But I know for a fact, whoever is reading this has an amazing body! You shouldn’t feel that you’re worth any less because your body shape is different from the ones you’re forced to see on social media!
It’s not easy being body positive all the time. Last year, I wrote an article on learning to love yourself unconditionally, and the words still apply today. In addition to that, I thought I would discuss 5 ways to practice body positivity to add to that journey of unconditional self-love.
Treat your body. Sometimes I think we forget how amazing our bodies are. They keep up with us and go above and beyond daily. So why not give back and pamper yourself once in a while?! It could be something small, like having a soothing bath or something more exciting like a spa day, depending on your budget. Especially for you guys that are constantly on the move, I think you should dedicate some free time to making yourself feel extra special! I know your body will thank you 😉
Positive affirmations. Find a time in the day to say what you like, love and are obsessed with about yourself. Tell yourself you are beautiful, unique and loved! Directing that positive energy through the power of manifestation and spoken word improves self-esteem and self-love levels. Being confident within your bodies and body image can only start if you are positive first, not from an outsider opinion! What you do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and feel comfortable in your skin needs to start from your biggest fan, you!
Block negative influences. I’ve learnt that some news sources and social media pages push the idea that having a specific body shape, like the Kardashian ant, is the only desirable look. Not everyone is genetically designed to look like that! Not everyone will have natural curves or naturally toned bodies, and that’s okay! I’m not entirely against plastic surgery because everyone has their reasons. Doing what makes them happy, e.g. liposuction after pregnancy or a boob reduction for pain relief. But if you’re taking in these unrealistic standards regularly, it will harm your mental health. It’s a good idea to limit the amount of time you go on these pages or, better yet, unfollow them!
Make your own achievable goals. Since we’ve come out of lockdown, I know that some of us have fallen into bad habits like eating more takeaways than usual; I’m guilty of this! Or being comfortable staying indoors and not as active as we could be. But we can break out of these habits and get into routines. It takes dedication, but we all have it in us to stick to it! The more effort we put in to stay fit, the better we will feel and reap the benefits the older we get. Even if it doesn’t feel like it now!
Stop comparing yourself to others. I’ve mentioned this in previous posts like the am I good enough post that comparison is really the thief of happiness! When we compare ourselves, we are automatically thinking we are better or worse off than someone else. It doesn’t help our well-being, but it’s completely normal if this is something you struggle with! It will take time to change that mindset, so try to focus more on yourself. You are what’s important on this body positivity journey, not what other people think, but how you feel!
I hope these tips were helpful if you’re not feeling your best or if you need a reminder that you are special just the way you are. Just remember that you were created to look a certain way different from others in this world! Your body is unique to you, so don’t feel inadequate because someone who’s had their body done is flaunting it on social media! Take time to focus on yourself and do things to make you happy and appreciate what you have!
-Seraphina
Words By Seraphina 
This is a caring post to remind us to love our body. Sometimes we focus on getting better or looking better that we forget our real self. Like you say, we need to pamper our body from time to time and push ourselves to maintain it for many days to come. It is definitely something to learn to feel comfortable under our own skin.
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Yes definitely 💕
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