How To Improve YOUR Body Positivity

Hello!!!

I can only write from my own experiences, belief, and research made.

Although we are all entitled to our opinions, let's ensure we are all respectful of one another.

These blog posts are for YOU. If there is a topic that you would be interested in that is not currently there, or that was not talked about in-depth, let me know on the contact page, Instagram, or Pinterest :)

Ultimately, please remember that everyone is different and beautiful!

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! (*me screaming at you with love*)

So for today, I'm going to share with you how to improve your body positivity.

1.Know the difference between body positivity vs. toxic body positivity vs. body neutrality

First of all, I think it is vital to understand the differences between body positivity, toxic body positivity, and body neutrality. To me, body positivity is about having people love their bodies regardless of society's beauty standards.

Toxic body positivity is when people only focus on the positive aspects of their bodies and disregard or ignore negative aspects they may see or feel. (e.g., ignoring health and/or weight issues detrimental to your lives)

Body neutrality is about having people not necessarily fully love their bodies but still appreciate their bodies for what they are and what they do. It is about recognizing that there are parts of your body that you or others (society) will not necessarily like and be okay with that. To be able to recognize you have things you can work on for your body and still find peace within yourself and recognize that you are beautiful.

Knowing the difference among those three concepts helps to improve your body positivity by ensuring you understand how to appreciate your body without disregarding your mental and physical health. I personally love both body positivity and body neutrality. I believe in loving and appreciating your body regardless of society's standards. In addition, it is essential to still be aware of the difference between loving your body blindly and loving your body enough to want it to be healthy.

BTW! A healthy is not limited to one with abs, healthy bodies also include, curves, rolls, and more :)

2. Understand positive and negative body image

Body image is a person's perception of their body along with thoughts and feelings about it. We already talked about body neutrality, so let's look at positive body image vs. negative body image.

Having a positive body image is when a person is accepting of their body while feeling comfortable. It's all about appreciating parts of yourself that you love and still appreciating or remaining neutral about the others. Your mood affects how you see yourself, so please know that you don't always have to be or feel happy to continue being comfortable within your body. No one's body is perfect. Focus on staying healthy, and remember that the goal is to feel comfortable within yourself.

Having a negative body image is when people have unrealistic ideals of their bodies that distort the way they see their bodies. It's all about obsessing on parts of yourself that you are dissatisfied with. Then, believing that the only way you can like those parts is by changing, all the while regardless of the negative consequences the changing method can do to your body. This is where dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, mood disorders, and more are involved. The perception you have of yourself is essential to loving your body regardless of anyone else's opinions.

3. Say No To Unhealthy Comparisons

No comparisons! Why? Because it's not realistic, you can't live or experience their life to understand how or why their bodies look the way they do. We all may think it's just about the looks, but comparing can quickly turn sour and hurt your mental and physical health. Let's remember that the person you are comparing yourself to is also human. So what you are probably comparing is but a fraction of the person you perceive they are.

Healthy comparisons, on the other hand, are perfect! So what's a healthy one? I have two answers.

(1) Compare your current self to your past self.

Remember the good and the bad from your life so far and find a way to constantly better yourself :)

(2) As humans, we frequently compare ourselves to others.

Still, it's important to remember that we usually compare ourselves with people we find similarities with. A healthier way to do this is by appreciating yourself and the person(s) you are comparing. So, let's drop the negativity and simply share, discuss, and learn about each other's bodies when appropriate.

4. Say Yes To Self-love

To me, self-love is all about the little things you do for yourself to keep your health in check and bring moments of happiness, especially during stressful times. For example, by taking the time to work out for the health of your body and by eating balanced meals. You could also take an extra scoop of ice cream on special days to reward yourself, take bubble baths, sleep a little longer, and even take a solo trip... there are so many things you can do to reward yourself for making an effort to love, appreciate, and care for yourself :)

RELATED: Tips For Self-Love

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This is a big topic that I would love to expand in more

5. Give Yourself A Break

Remember that your mental and physical health is essential, but it also takes time and effort. Understand that there will be lows and highs in your life with changes, self-love, and more. But, just like everyone else, you need a break. So take time off social media, read a book, or take some alone time to simply be. Basically, anything that can give you a moment of peace and quiet. While doing so, take the time to reflect on the fantastic things you and your body have done to grow into the amazing individual that you are.