Viva logo

Stop Hating Your Body with These Simple Steps

Body Image and Radical Self-Love

By Paige SanzPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
Like

Be a Smarter Consumer

Loving the way you look is hard enough without being force fed words, images and songs that perpetuate an unobtainable beauty standard. It's time to cut out the things that are feeding your unworthiness.

  1. Unfollow people and pages that encourage weight loss and diet culture (yes, even if you know them personally). Whether they are posting about their own need for weight loss, their obsession with working out or posting about a new juice cleanse that they claim will guarantee weight loss, hit that unfollow button. An important distinction to make is whether or not the posts are focused on health or beauty/weight loss. Keep this in mind when screening your feed. This goes for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, snapchat, etc.
  2. Follow people, pages and hashtags that encourage positive body image or self-love. It is important to realize that negative body image is prevalent and you are not alone. Not only are there others on social media that know exactly what you're going through, but there is HUGE body positive movement that you can be a part of for your own self-healing process.

Go Without Makeup

Kesha is just one example of the celebrities that have posted selfies sans makeup

I know, I know. This is a tough one. Take baby steps and start simple to make it easy for yourself. Start by just leaving the house with the basics. Maybe you just wear concealer or do your eyes. Gradually, you can cut out one more item until you're comfortable leaving the house with no makeup. Save makeup for date nights and special occasions. Don't get me wrong, I know makeup can be a form of expression and even artistic. If you love it and find that you can express yourself via makeup, find a constructive way to do so. You might have to work a little harder by reframing the thoughts about your body image without makeup or while you're doing your makeup, but it's ok to love it and hold on to it as long as it's healthy!

Did You Know? By cutting down on how much you wear makeup, you're allowing yourself to relearn your face and your beauty without having to distort it. Much of relearning to love yourself comes from scrapping the negative thoughts you have taught yourself to believe in for so long. Thoughts like, "This makeup will make me pretty," and, "I can't leave the house without makeup." YES YOU CAN. It's time to teach yourself to look in the mirror without makeup and say "I am beautiful."

Hide the Clothes That Don't Fit

Get rid of 'em! Whatever you need to do to, get those clothes that no longer fit you out of your daily line of sight. It's hard when that little voice in your head is saying, "It will fit again when I lose weight," or "I was that size once, I will be that size again." Here me now when I say it is NOT worth the daily torment you are putting yourself through. Everyday you look at those clothes, you're allowing yourself to think that you're not good enough, thin enough, pretty enough. Every day you let those clothes sit in your closet, you're tearing yourself down. So donate them. If you can't stand the idea of getting rid of them for good, put them in a bag and put it away in the closet or under the bed so that every day when you go to get dressed all you see are clothes that are flattering and make you feel good to wear.

Treat Yo' Self

Pamper yourself with something. Make yourself feel pretty with a little self care. Whether it's a trip to the salon, a little bit of shopping to increase that recently diminished wardrobe, or getting a mini massage. A little bit of self care goes a long way, and taking care of your mental well-being trickles down. I know it's hard to justify spending the time or money when you've spent so long telling yourself that there are other things that are more important. It's time to start telling yourself that YOU are important and self care is a priority. If you can't spend the money, block out some time each week just for you at home for a bubble bath. Plan a girl's (or guys) night and do each other's nails or something fun together! Either way, take some me time and consciously tell yourself that you deserve it.

Trash That Scale

Your Weight Does Not Define Your Beauty

You don't need it. Having that scale around might as well be the devil on your shoulder telling you you're not good enough. You don't need anyone or anything telling you that a number defines your beauty. So toss it. If you live with family or a significant other that feels they need it for whatever reason, ask them to hide it from you and take it out only when they want to use it.

Pro Tip: When you're weighed at the doctor's office, ask them politely to keep their results to themselves. Tell them you're not interested in knowing what the number is. Step on the scale backward or close your eyes if need be.

Stop the Negative Self-Talk

Last but DEFINITELY not least. Consciously make an effort to change the negative thoughts in their tracks. When you're out in public with your friends that you feel are thinner or prettier than you are, it's not an invitation for you to make jokes about how you're not as pretty or thin as them. It can be difficult to catch yourself in the midst of a pattern that you have been doing virtually your entire life. Practice makes perfect. When you catch yourself saying something negative, try stopping mid-thought and saying to yourself "I'm not the butt of a joke and I am beautiful." Find some encouraging phrases that work for you but find something that you can actively use to stop those pesky thoughts from penetrating your happiness force field.

In the end, remember that we, the consumer decide what is beautiful and you are in charge of deciding that you are beautiful by your own standards. No one else. Take your power back by practicing these things and don't be discouraged when a bad day or a bad thought penetrates your happiness force field.

Like

About the Creator

Paige Sanz

I have full conversations with my cat. I like to catch water in my mouth and spit it out like a reverse water fountain in the shower. I can't help but love horrible 90's shows. I believe in ghosts and I have an irrational fear of whales.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.