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If you’re feeling frustration or resentment toward your body right now, take a breath.
These things might help you get back on track to accepting and loving your body.
Been bullying your body more than usual?
It’s worth noting that, throughout your entire life, your bodywillcontinue to change.
Of course, that’s easier said than doneespecially in times of change or turmoil.
Society isfull of expectations and unrealistic standardsthat can make loving your body in any shape or form extremely difficult.
And if there’s ever been a time to flex that self-love muscle, it’s now.
Create a self-love mantra.
“How often do you give a friend empathy for something you criticize yourself for?
“Your internal dialogue matters.
It creates your thoughts, which create your feelings, which leads to your behavior.
“Mantras, for some folks, are a powerful component of healing and self-compassion,” says Cording.
If you struggle with self-love, you might find that coming up with a mantra is incredibly cathartic.
“It just needs to be authentic to you.”
You might tailor one of the below to best-suit your needs:
2.
And then thank the parts of your body that are harder for you to love.”
Just be sure to thank at least (!)
“Thank yourbelly fatfor protecting your organs!
Thank your sexy parts for making you feel good!
Thank your skin for allowing you to feel the soft furry friends we’ve gotten to pet.
Thank your butt for the thirst traps you’ve been posting!”
Give your social media feeds a makeover.
Time to KonMari your timelines.
Then, keep this practice up after the initial purge.
*
You never need to explain your decision to unfollow someone.
I just wanted to let you know that I’m unfollowing you.
It’s not because I don’t love you (I still do!
Hope you understand.'
(Who knows: It may even prompt them to take a second look at their body-focused self-talk.)
As the saying goes: seeing is believing.
Here are some good places to start:
4.
Create boundaries IRL, too.
I guarantee they’ll understand you and will happily hear you out,” suggests Lee.
Move your body in ways that make you feel good.
It sounds cheesy, but it’s actually science.
You might even take this time to try a new kind of exercise!
“Learning a new skill can make you feel really good about yourself,” says Cording.
Lee, for instance, recently bought roller-skates.
“I’ve been out there every other day skating around in the street,” she says.
“It’s wholesome, adorable fun that you’re able to do at any size.”
Need help loving your body right now?
)," they say.
TheHealth At Every Size websiteand @thefatsextherapistare great resources to share with them.
In fact,researchhas shown that women who masturbate have higher self-esteem than those who do not.
To be clear: You don’t need to drop coin to practice self-care (ever).
“Take a picture of the part of your body you feel most drawn to,” she says.
you’re able to take photo of a single body-part (love a #belfie!
), or your ~whole thang~.
You might say: “hi!
Or, “hi!
I just took some sensual nudes ~just because~.
Can I send you one so you’ve got the option to gas me up?”
Dance your ass off.
Or wiggle your hips.
Or flip your hair.
Or shake your shoulders.
Or, or, or…
There is no right or wrong here.
“Dance without thinking about it!”
“It’s a great way to connect with your body and practice joyful movement.”
Give them a follow to dance it out with someone else.
Explore your gender and gender expression.
It goes on your birth certificate.”
Gender is totally different.
It’s how you perceive yourself, dress, act, etc.
For some people, sex and gender do align (these folks are known as cisgender).
But for other folks, it doesn’t (known as transgender).
(Gender dysphoria is when someone experiences distress over biological sex=gender).
That’s why they suggest exploring your own gender identity and expression.
“You could do this in lots of different ways,” they say.
“Is your hair usually short?
“Let it grow out, or order a wig online!
Is your hair usually long?
Consider cutting it all off!
You could also play around with makeup!
Try on your partner’s or roommate’s clothes!
Let your body or facial hair grow out.
Stop tweezing your eyebrows or bleaching/waxing your lip and chin hairs!”
Find a body-positive therapist.
