As the weather gets warmer, people tend to slip into something a little more revealing, and for some, a lot less comfortable. With summer approaching, more people can be seen in dresses, skirts, shorts, and, what some of us dread, bathing suits! Let’s be honest: it’s hard not to look at a magazine, or the television, and see celebrities with perfect bodies. Heck, some of these people can even be seen just by looking outside the front door! So, the question is: how does a one learn to feel comfortable in his or her skin?
Of course, a simple answer is to just love your body. As wonderful as that sounds, it is much easier said than done! However, speaking from experience, it is possible to improve your body image. After I had surgery, I was left with tons of scars that I could not stand. In order to change my opinion of myself, I made a pact with myself that I would look in the mirror each morning and say one thing about my body that I loved. After a few weeks, I noticed that the positives outweighed the negativity that I had felt towards my scars. If I can do it, then so can you!
Along with pointing out all of the positive aspects of your body, you need to accept that people come in all different shapes and sizes. Women tend to focus on their weight, comparing themselves to others. However, who is to say that a size 6 is more attractive than a size 12, or even more attractive than a size 2? While men are often concerned about weight as well, muscle mass tends to be the bigger issue. I must ask: who decided that a man must have muscles to be attractive? It is important to remember that beauty is not a static term; we shouldn’t expect ourselves, and/or everyone around us, to look like models. People come in all shapes and sizes. In my opinion, everyone has something about them that can be considered beautiful!
Another great way to recognize our own beauty is to actually notice it in others. Even though it seems odd to point out someone else’s positive attributes in order to help yourself, it really does work. The reasoning is actually quite simple: noticing the positive in others generally puts you in a more cheerful mindset. When you focus on imperfections in others, it is just as easy to transfer that negative mindset to yourself. So, next time, instead of picking out another’s flaws, pinpoint something attractive on them instead! It’ll make it easier to notice your own positive features!
In addition to changing how you view yourself, make sure to take care of your body. The best tips are to eat right, drinks plenty of water, and exercise. People tend to associate the word exercise with losing weight, but there are plenty of other benefits to working out! Not only can it keep your body in great physical shape (remember: there isn’t one “right” shape), it keeps your body functioning properly and reduces stress! Even if you are happy with your weight and muscle mass, try to spend at least 20 minutes a day performing some form of cardio activity. You’ll be happy you did in the long run!
In the final analysis, nobody is perfect; we all have flaws, even if they are minuscule, that make us self-conscious of our appearance. The best way to combat this issue is to learn to love and appreciate our own bodies. Even though it may be a difficult journey to embark upon, it can be accomplished! Altering to a more positive mentality paired with taking good care of one’s body will help to boost your confidence. Did I mention that confidence is the sexiest thing a person can wear?