All Posts tagged how to love your body

As a woman raising a daughter, you want her to grow into a confident, capable, and healthy woman. After all, in your mind, she is the most beautiful and exceptional girl in the world, and she should realize that too. Understand, however, that your beliefs, attitudes, and comments about your own body are some of the most impactful factors that will dictate how your daughter feels about her own. According to a report by Common Sense Media, five to eight-year-olds who think their mothers are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to feel dissatisfied with their bodies in return. With swimsuit season quickly approaching, now more than ever, learn to break the habit of negative self-image talk and be the confident woman you hope your daughter will be one day too. Keep reading for five tips for learning to be body positive.

1. Accept that What You See in the Media is Not a Standard to Which You Should Aspire. Your Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook feeds are likely full of images of celebrities, social media personalities, and even acquaintances who appear to be thinner, fitter, and happier than you. Remind yourself that what you see is only a curated compilation of moments in time and that you don’t have to be waiflike to be happy—because most women aren’t rail thin, and those who are, may not be healthy, or nearly as happy as they appear in your social stream.
2. Talk to Your Body Like It’s Your Friend. If your friend were having a bad day, and feeling bad about herself, you wouldn’t agree or toss further insults at her. You’d pick her back up on her feet and remind her of all of her unique qualities. Do the same for your body. After all, you’re going to be together for a long time.
3. Spread Your Positivity Around. If you find yourself criticizing yourself, that negativity could manifest into how you perceive others as well. Don’t let yourself become so obsessed with weight, body types, or small insignificant physical details that you find yourself thinking (or saying!) negative comments about other people’s bodies. By remaining positive about others, you will find ways to be positive about yourself. And by being positive about yourself, you will effortlessly be positive about others. It’s a happy cycle.
4. Forgive Yourself. If you are trying to eat healthily, go to yoga class, and drink plenty of water, but find it’s not always easy to be consistent while you are running around after your toddler and doing double duty as a mom and a dedicated employee, give yourself a break. Cheat on your diet one day? Forgive yourself and recommit tomorrow. Haven’t seen the scale budge in weeks? Don’t let that be a reason to stop trying to make healthy choices. Forgiveness is an essential predecessor to acceptance, which is a critical step toward happiness.
5. Surround Yourself with Positive People. The people in your life can have a detrimental impact on your happiness if they are highly critical, self-deprecating, and unsupportive. You don’t need that level of negativity in your life. By surrounding yourself with people who share your values and appreciation for maintaining a positive body image, you will find that even on a bad day, you have the motivation to remain positive.

Remember, your body image doesn’t only impact you; it affects your daughter too. Be the confident, accepting woman you want your daughter to be, and you’ll both live happy, healthy lives.