Have you ever looked in the mirror and don’t like what you see? If you often find yourself in that place, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with body image and loving themselves for who they are. Continue reading this piece if you want to learn how to embrace your body and start admiring yourself.
Remember, thanking and embracing your body is one of the first steps to loving yourself and being healthy. However, making a habit giving yourself the love you deserve is difficult, especially when society keeps telling you to change yourself.
So, how can you appreciate your body? In this article, we will discuss what body image means and how you can embrace your body.
Embracing Your Body — What is it about?
Appreciating your body, warts and all for you is the first thing to practice when pursuing self-love. But is it easy to wake up one day and start appreciating your body? Well, loving your body in its current state, with its flaws and imperfections, is all about changing how you view you body.
Body image refers to how one perceives their body. It is also how you may think others look at you and what they may think about you. In simpler terms, your body image relates to your feelings about your body. Therefore, it impacts your confidence and self-esteem.
Developing a positive body image is the first thing to do if you want to embrace your body. It requires identifying unhealthy thought patterns and replacing negative feelings with positive ones. Only then can you start loving and nurturing your body the way you should.
How to Embrace Your Body — Top Tips
Simple rituals can improve your mental health and help you practice self-love and wellness.
Meditate
Meditation is a simple and effective way to center yourself. You can practice meditation when life gets tougher, and you struggle to control your racing thoughts. It offers multiple health benefits for the mind and body, allowing you to relax and forget about the different stressors of life.
The best part? Meditation is easily accessible as anyone can do it anytime. You only need a quiet space and pay attention to your breathing. If you’re not sure where to start, you can opt for guided meditation. Soon, you will notice how meditation can reverse negative thoughts and help you embrace your body.
Practice Mindful Movement
You may have already tried working out to lose weight or gain muscles to attain your “desired body shape.” But, mindful movement is quite different from regular exercise.
Usually, workouts involve forcing the body to do something you may not want it to do. On the other hand, mindful movement is about asking your body what it needs. For example, you can practice mindful movement by walking fast in a nearby park.
This movement allows you to become aware and present, and allows you to live in the moment. When you move your body and notice your surroundings simultaneously, it refreshes your mind and body.
Read a Book
You know you want to embrace your body, but what exactly does it mean to love yourself? Understanding the concept of self-love can be a tricky at first. All of us know how to love someone else, but what can we do to love ourselves?
If you're unsure, like many people starting out, self-love books can help. Finding a book that will change how you view your body and the perspective of self-love forever is not very hard. Look for a book that speaks to you on a deeper level. You should be able to find one that resonates with you in the self-love book aisle.
Ask for Help
This may come as a surprise to you, but self-love is also about asking for help.
When people are stressed or struggling to love their bodies, they tend to become distant. You may begin to hide from the world to avoid feeling stressed. While moral support is essential, people often forget to talk to a loved one.
In stressful situations, becoming vulnerable in front of someone and asking for help can feel very difficult. But remember, getting support from loved ones is one of the best ways to change how you view yourself.
Slow Down
The world is moving quickly, and it can be hard to keep up. Trying to meet many expectations at once can result in elevated levels of stress, and negatively affect your self-esteem.
When necessary, you should slow down. Here are a few tips to help you embrace self-love at the right pace.
Eat Slowly: Try and get rid of all distractions every time you sit down to eat. Make it a point to enjoy your food; chew slowly and take time to taste what you’re eating.
Breathe: As you go about your day, take a few minutes to pause and breathe. Take a few deep breaths and check in with your body, paying attention to what it may need.
Rest: Each time you feel like your mind and body are exhausted, don’t hesitate to get some rest. Don’t hold back from giving your body what it needs.
Bottom Line
Appreciating and loving your body is not easy and takes significant time and effort. To learn how to embrace your body, you need to change how you view your body. A positive body image can fill you with happiness and confidence.
You can start practicing self-love through meditation, mindful movement, and reading. Don’t forget to ask for help from loved ones and slow down.
Are you ready to begin your journey of self-love? Let us witness it by connecting with us on Instagram: @shapellxofficial.
