Struggling with our bodies and body image is something that is experienced by many people. While we want to love our bodies for everything they do for us, in the ReachOut community we realise that sometimes it can be really tough to be positive about your body. It’s important to be able to talk about our experiences with body image, while also keeping our community as a safe space for readers.
Talking safely about body image is important because:
- Being honest about body image struggles in a world filled with unrealistic body standards and inconsistent messages about our bodies can be tough. However,
- What you say about your body can impact how comfortable others may feel in theirs, in both positive and negative ways.
- Those who live with chronic health issues or disability also deserve a space to express their experiences with their bodies without judgement.
We may remove or edit your post if it:
- Includes derogatory (disrespectful) talk or criticising bodies, including your own body
- Post specifics about your height, weight and clothing size
- Focus on exercise or eating in a way which does not promote body acceptance
What is 'Body Acceptance'?
Body acceptance means that you can have mixed feelings about your body, but still have compassion and kindness towards it. Body acceptance doesn’t mean you have to be thrilled with your body but to accept it for what it is, reflect on what you like or might not like, and respect and care for it along the way.
Body acceptance looks like:
- Being mindful and thankful for what your body can do right now, not bragging about it or criticising
- Encouraging being kind to your body through nourishing, moving and protecting it in a balanced way
- Being aware that while our body is us, we are more than our bodies.
What can I say? Good vs bad
- “I feel my body is…” or “I like/dislike that my body is…” vs “I am”
- “I want to eat more healthily” vs “I must only eat healthy things”
- “I want to be more healthy” vs “I want to look like…”
- “I am proud of my body” vs “my body is better than others”
What is 'Body Neutrality'?
Body neutrality is about being cool with your body without getting too caught up in how it looks. Instead of always thinking about how you look, it's about focusing on what your body can do for you. It's about appreciating your body for helping you move, enjoy yummy food, dance, play sports, and all the other cool stuff it does every day. Body neutrality means not getting too caught up in whether you love or hate your body's appearance, but instead just accepting it as it is. It means understanding that your value and worth as a person aren't defined by how your body looks. It's about being okay with not loving every little thing about how you look and understanding that it's normal to feel that way sometimes. Basically, body neutrality is about being at peace with your body and treating it with kindness, no matter what it looks like.
Here are four ways you can practice body neutrality:
- Shift focus from appearance to functionality: Imagine being in a place where you don’t think about the appearance of your body. Strive to accept your body without engaging in either hating or loving its physical features.
- Acknowledge body functionality: Remember all the things your body can do for you. Practice gratitude for what your body allows you to do, focusing on its capabilities rather than its physical characteristics.
- Practice acceptance and self-care: Understand that you don’t have to love or even like your body, but you can accept and care for it regardless of how it looks. Listen to what your body needs in terms of movement, food, and rest.
- Nurture your whole self: Practice body kindness, mindfulness, and self-care. Treat yourself with respect even if you feel neutral about your body. Focus on your identity, strengths, hobbies, and relationships - look beyond physical appearance as the sole indicator of worth.
What is 'Body Positivity'?
Body positivity is about feeling good about yourself and your body, no matter what. It's about accepting and loving yourself exactly as you are, without worrying about what others might think or comparing yourself to unrealistic appearance standards. It means recognising that everyone is different and unique, and that's what makes us special. Body positivity is all about celebrating your body for all the amazing things it can do and focusing on being healthy and happy, rather than trying to change how you look to fit in with what society says is "perfect". It's about treating yourself and others with kindness and respect, and knowing that you are enough just as you are.
Here are four ways you can practise body positivity:
- Use affirmations: Create strong and affirming positive statements to combat unhelpful body-talk and comparisons. These could include phrases like “I am enough,” “My body is great,” or “I am worthy as I am.”
- Avoid comparisons: Try to keep unhelpful body comparisons to a minimum, as they are unfair and unproductive. Try to focus on your own journey and progress without comparing yourself to others.
- Prioritise your well-being: Move and nourish your body in ways that make you feel good, prioritising health gains and mental well-being overweight or muscularity changes.
- Embrace your self-worth: Remind yourself that you are enough just the way you are. Try to refrain from body shaming yourself or others and use empowering language to uplift yourself and others.
A note on the body image approaches
The goal is to discover an approach to managing your body image that suits you best. You might find one approach resonates more strongly with you while another doesn't resonate at all, or perhaps you find a blend of multiple approaches effective.
If your relationship with your body is impacting your life, consider exploring various concepts and approaches. You might even consider integrating ideas from body acceptance, body neutrality, and body positivity to create your own personalised approach. It's okay to adapt and evolve on your journey towards body acceptance and self-love💛
Seek support when needed
If you’re struggling with body image issues, don’t hesitate to seek professional support or engage in discussions within the community for guidance and encouragement. If you need support with your body image or eating, contact: https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/
