How to Have a Positive Body Image
How to Have and Maintain a Positive Body Image:
Growing up in Los Angeles is hard because everyone looks famous and put together 24/7 in our image driven society. Physical appearance is very much impressed upon. With celebrities as neighbors and movies being filmed down the street, it is easy to get caught up in how you look. As much as I want to say I have always felt confident with myself, I have not always felt great emotionally or about my physical appearance. Feeling good on the inside and using that to channel the confidence that comes with physical appearance is something I have always struggled with.
I deeply resent the modeling industry for ever pressuring me to change the way I look based on what societal expectations of what the size of a model was. I started modeling at 13 and immediately felt the pressure for my 5'7 frame to look a certain way in order to appear thin next to a 5'11 girl with naturally long and lanky limbs. I deprived myself of bread and sugar, which are seriously two of the best things on earth and I was hardly working. I woke up one morning and thought to myself "What am I doing this for?" If I was working a lot, maybe I would have felt more comfortable with all the working out and dieting I was doing, but I wasn't and I honestly burnt out.
Over the past 3 years I have transitioned into acting and into blogging full time. In these past three years I have also put on 10 pounds and I eat clean, I do not deprive myself, and I live a healthy and active lifestyle in LA. Although there are little parts about my physical appearance I tend to want to work on, I am overall happy and feel confident with my body and the way that I look. I think confidence is one of the best traits an individual can posses.
Do I feel insecure at times? 100%. Do I compare myself to other bloggers/models on Instagram? 100%. What we tend to forget when comparing ourselves is the fact that no two bodies are the same and no two people are the same. Instagram is not real life, trust me. Look around, put down your phone, talk, voice your opinion, share your struggles, share your feelings. Happiness stems from within and if you are not happy on the inside, others can feel it.
Moral of the story: Strive to be the best version of yourself internally and see how your physical appearance evolves naturally. We are all made to feel happy, feel sad, compare ourselves, and put pressure upon ourselves. That is life, and that is human nature. How you deal with those feelings is the real struggle, and from that struggle comes growth.
Here are 10 things you can do to channel self confidence and maintain a positive body image:
Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you feel good about your body.
Work with your body, not against it.
Unplug: sign out of social media and put your phone down.
Get active: find a workout you love. Sweat it out and release those endorphins.
Do something that lets your body know you appreciate it. Take a bubble bath, make time for a nap, find a peaceful place outside to relax.
Focus on parts of your body you love instead of those you don't. Make a mental list!
Think and speak positively in terms of what your body can do, you can change your own mood and perception of yourself with this trick!
They say "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," well what if you are the beholder?
Try something new, switch it up. Less talking, more doing. Whether that is a new workout class, trying a new restaurant, or meeting a new friend for dinner or drinks. Pushing yourself out of your comfort sound leaves you feeling rewarded after. Be proud of yourself.
Unfollow people on social media who make you feel badly about yourself, not intentionally, but because it's easy to get lost comparing yourself. Get rid of comparison and any self-inflicted negativity.