How to have more body confidence
Have you ever felt self-conscious about your body or wished you had more body confidence? If you’ve ever talked yourself out of doing or wearing something because of the way your body looks, this post is for you.
When I was younger it never occurred to me that there was anything wrong with my body. It was what it was. In those days I had ginger ringlets in my hair and big, bright blue eyes. Adults thought I looked cute, but children took the mickey out of me. I was ‘solidly built’ or ‘big boned’ as my mother would say. But I was ok with that. I couldn’t see what the fuss was about.
How to have more body confidence – don’t believe all you read in magazines
Then one fateful day as a teenager I read a quiz in a magazine aimed at teenage girls and no matter what answers you gave, it led you back to the point that you needed to change, that your body was flawed, it even hinted that you should hate one part of your body. ‘Which bit of your body do you hate the most?’ It screeched. I didn’t hate my body. I don’t hate my body. It is what it is. But it got me thinking. Should I hate my body? Should I be looking for imperfections, or criticising my double chins or knobbly knees?
For years I looked at magazines and felt sad because I wasn’t super thin like ladies of the time in the media. I felt inadequate, unattractive. Worthless at times. This was ‘helpfully’ backed up by the narrative that you could only be attractive or confident if you lost loads of weight or had a conventional look. At the back of my mind I kept thinking was it not ok to simply accept every little bit of my body and just get on with life?
It took me a long, long time after this to realise that actually yes, I can certainly just accept the way my body is and learn to love it, without wasting precious hours worrying if I carry too much weight here, or if parts of me which once were pert and up there are now erm not!
Over the years I came to see that scars from accidents and operations, stretch marks, scars where chicken pox or acne once were, are just telling your story. See every scar and stretch mark like part of the tapestry of your life. I’ve learned to embrace my laughter lines as I only got them because I spent so much time crinkling my eyes up to laugh at something I found funny!
How do you get more body confidence?
Firstly, I would remember that people probably aren’t even thinking about which bits of you aren’t perfect. They’ve probably not even noticed. The truth is they’re more likely to be worrying about their own scars and saggy bits than worrying about yours! Or they might be noticing things they do like about you.
Think about when you meet someone for the first time. Are you conscious of thinking negative thoughts about their saggy bits or scars? I bet you aren’t. If you’re not, chances are they won’t be either. Once you realise that no one actually cares what you look like, you can heave a massive sigh of relief and feel more confident!
See your body as being exactly right as it is today.
The easiest way to get more body confidence is to see it for what it is, a fantastic. beautiful thing. What do you like about your body? Do you have good legs, or nice eyes? Have people complimented you on having luscious long hair maybe? In turn learn to love all the rest of it, exactly how it is today. Without losing or gaining pounds in weight, without having to shave or pluck it. Just as it is.
By all means do the pruning, shave your legs and paint your toenails if you like but don’t beat yourself up if you’ve not got around to it for a while.
Embrace every tiny part of you and know you are just right exactly how you are. You’re not too big, too fat, too thin, too small, too floppy, too flappy, too tall or too short. You are exactly right, just as you are.
Accentuate your good bits
Accentuate your good bits – draw attention towards them by wearing things that drag the eyes to what you want them to focus on. A bold piece of jewellery or an interesting lipstick can drag the eyes away from a bad hair day. Or wear interesting boots or jazzy socks or an unusual hat.
Wear the right clothes
Wear clothes that make you feel good. Good, well-fitting underwear, the right size jeans that fit snuggly but don’t nip you or randomly fall down make all the difference. Experiment with colour, texture and shapes. The right clothes, shoes and accessories can make you feel on top of the world. Ditch any clothes that make you feel awful especially if they don’t look good, or don’t fit properly.
If you have loads of clothes or shoes that you hardly wear, try re-auditioning them. Get them out of the cupboard and wear them once. If you find you still don’t gel with them, either post them on Vinted or donate them to a charity shop or charity donation bin.
How to get a beach ready body
If you’re worried if your body is ‘beach ready’ believe me, it is! Just grab a bag and your beach stuff and go! I’ve been to the beach 5 times in as many months and honestly just go! I dare you!
Read my other articles
https://www.sarahcooper.co.uk/easy-ways-to-improve-your-self-esteem/
I am a Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Reiki Master Practitioner, Massage Therapist and Writer from Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire. I love writing about Health and Wellbeing, Mind Body Spirit and Reflexology. When I'm not at work, you can find me in the kitchen cooking up a storm!
If you'd like to book a treatment please go to https://www.sarahcooper.co.uk/book
0 Comments