23. Practice body positivity this summer

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OPINION

If you’re struggling with body image, reach out to loved ones. Forming a community of acceptance can be a great way to begin loving yourself as you are. CREDIT: PEXELS

Practice body positivity this summer with positive affirmations, community, and mindfulness

You’re allowed to feel confident in your body no matter what it looks like and what your lifestyle is

ELENI KOPSAFTIS

Summer is finally here, which means it's time to show off those summer bods. But what does that ideal swimsuit body look like, you ask? Easy; everybody reading this has already got one!

It's a sad fact that we grow up believing in an “ideal” body. If we're not paper-thin or visibly toned, we're led to feel ashamed of our bodies when in reality, there is absolutely nothing wrong with different shapes and sizes.

As a matter of fact, even if everyone in the world had the same diet, lifestyle, and level of ability, there’d still be an abundance of people with different bodies, and those bodies would continue to change over time.

Some might argue that weight is an indicator of health, and while that can be a factor in some cases, it doesn't change the fact that you still deserve to wear whatever you want. Your worth as a person is not tied to your appearance nor your health, and you’re allowed to feel good regardless of how you look or how healthy you are. So whether you're big or small, boney or curvy, athletic or out of shape, don't be ashamed to wear those crop tops and shorts with confidence this season.

With all that said, I know that it's hard to internalize self-confidence when it comes to our bodies. So if you want to practice body positivity but aren't sure where to start, here are a few ideas you can try. do like. It can be as small as the colour of your eyes, the texture of your hair, the shape of your jaw, or a piece of body art.

Better yet, find something different that you appreciate about the part of your body you initially disliked. If you don’t like the way a pair of pants shape your legs, acknowledge the way the colour accentuates your skin tone.

By changing the way you think and talk about your body, you’ll eventually form a habit that encourages positivity instead of shame.

Use positive self-talk

Even if we don't say it aloud, thinking negatively about ourselves can increase our feelings of low self-esteem. Therefore, you should start by making changes to the way you think and talk about yourself.

For every negative thought you have about your body, tell yourself a positive affirmation.

A great way to do this is to say it out loud at least three times, and make the affirmation an opposite to the negative thought. For example, if you thought, ‘I hate the way these pants look on me,’ try saying ‘these pants look good on me.’ Even if you don’t believe it at first, the repetition will eventually make positive self-talk come more naturally to you.

If you can’t bring yourself to use affirmations that directly oppose your initial thoughts, try diverting attention away from them by complimenting a different part of your appearance that you

When it comes to bodily insecurities, I can guarantee that you’re not alone.

Reach out

Try opening up about your struggles to someone you trust. While each person’s body is different, we often end up feeling ashamed about the same things. Our own hypercriticism tends to over-exaggerate aspects of ourselves that we don’t like. So, even if you don’t think someone is insecure about their body because they ‘look fine’ to you, they could have a myriad of features that they’re insecure abou. So even if our loved ones don’t always know the right things to say, we might at least be able to find solace in relating to someone.

Another option to think about is body positivity groups and clubs. If you use social media, you can easily find and follow various pages and hashtags on the topic. For example, a quick search on Facebook will show you a ton of different groups focused on body positivity. Even if you choose not to actively participate, you’ll begin to feel part of a community while also fostering an affirming mindset.

Practice mindfulness

Lots of us can pinpoint the moment we began to feel inse-

You have the best understanding of your body and your health, and someone elseʼs opinion doesnʼt change that.

cure in our bodies. It might’ve been after someone made a rude comment, or when a TV channel advertised a weight loss program. With hindsight, it’s important to be mindful of the intentions of such moments so that we can understand that our bodies aren’t the problem. Rather, other people’s intentions and perceptions are.

In the case of advertising, we have to remember that behind every ad, there’s always a seller trying to make you buy something.

The company that funded the commercial for those diet pills you saw is primarily trying to make money off of you. If they convince you that there’s a problem with your body–that there is something you should be ashamed of–you’ll probably be more inclined to buy it.

This kind of branding is malicious, so if you encounter something in a magazine or on the internet that makes you feel bad about yourself, keep in mind that the so-called problems they’re telling you about are often invented to make a customer out of you.

This can be trickier when it comes to negative interactions with other people. Those who are direct with their criticisms towards you are doing so purely to incite a negative reaction. They don’t actually understand you or your body, so their judgements are biased and invalid.

More often though, we encounter those who criticize us with good intentions. Due to preconceived notions about weight and health, friends and family members might encourage you to lose a few pounds to stay healthy without knowing anything about your habits and lifestyle. Even though they believe they’re helping you, such individuals are only contributing to stigma and your low self-esteem.

So, stay mindful and remind yourself that their comments— even well-intentioned ones—aren’t based on fact. You have the best understanding of your body and your health, and someone else’s opinion doesn’t change that.

In such cases, consider speaking with the person making criticisms and ask them not to comment on your body. Even if they can’t change their perspective, you can at least make sure they won’t talk about it in the future.

It’s okay if you’re not ready to try all of these things at once. Accepting your body requires unlearning the ideas that stigma and branding have taught us all our lives, and it’s difficult. So all-inall, wear whatever you’re most comfortable in this summer, but know that you can still totally rock that swimsuit at the beach.