Draven Jackson
Blogger | Teacher
Twitter
Having a negative body image is a difficult struggle that people are constantly facing, especially in the era of Photoshop and social media. It seems sometimes like we are constantly facing off with our own bodies, fighting the mirror over an idea about what beauty is supposed to look like.
But as Louise Hay once said, “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Reminding yourself that you are more than your beauty and that your body is doing its best are some of the important affirmations that can help improve your relationship with your body. Here are some other amazing affirmations that can help improve the way you see yourself and encourage self-love.
My body needs to eat so it can be healthy.
This may not seem like it should be included in a list of positive affirmations for improving your relationship with your body – it should just be obvious, right? We need to eat to live, so reminding yourself to feed your body just seems like a no-brainer.
But, personally, eating can be a really difficult concept for people who struggle with body image issues. For some people, negative thinking surrounding body dysmorphia can result in thoughts like, “Oh, but if I skip this meal, it can help me lose weight,” or “I’m still hungry, but I won’t eat anymore because it’s better to eat smaller portions.”
And while, yes, it is good to pace yourself and eat certain things in moderation, the idea that you “shouldn’t eat” when you’re hungry is completely unfair to your body. Hunger is your body’s way of telling you it needs nutrients and calories to function. In the end, it’s better to eat when you’re hungry (and choose healthier options if you’re trying to improve your diet) than to not eat at all.
Your body needs to eat to live, and it will thank you for the love and care you are giving it.
I don’t look like other people, and that’s okay.
One of the biggest and most important affirmations for improving your relationship with your body is simply reminding yourself that you don’t need to look like other people in order to be valuable. Beauty doesn’t look the same for everyone, and there are so many more important things than being considered “beautiful.”
But if feeling beautiful is something you want to feel in order to improve your self-image, then remind yourself that not all beauty looks the same. Sure, I’ll never look like Alexandra Daddario, but she also looks nothing like Sulli Choi or Zoë Kravitz, all of whom were included on IMDB’s list of “The Most Beautiful Actresses in the World” in 2019.
If they can all be considered beautiful and yet look nothing alike, then why can’t you? Beauty doesn’t simply have one definition, so you can still be considered beautiful even if you don’t look exactly like someone else.
Being healthy isn’t the same as being skinny.
This is one of the affirmations I have to remind myself of constantly, especially when I’m trying to lose weight or improve my diet and exercise habits. When you’re trying to be healthier, it can be so easy to slip into the mindset that “skinny” and “healthy” are the same things, which simply isn’t true.
Being “skinny” doesn’t mean you’re healthy, and losing weight to be smaller isn’t the only way to improve your body. There are plenty of workout routines – like weightlifting or body building – where weight loss or becoming smaller aren’t major factors in improving your body.
It’s good to try and improve your daily habits for the sake of your health, but don’t believe in the idea that if you’re not losing weight or becoming skin, you’re failing. Being healthy looks and feels different for a lot of people, so as long as you’re happy and your body feels good, then that’s all that really matters.
Small improvements are still a step forward.
Sometimes, trying to take care of your body and become healthier requires affirmations that remind you that every step forward, no matter how small, is still important. If you’re not meeting your personal goals, it can be easy to sink into negativity and feel like you’re not doing enough. However, the simple act of trying is already a great step in the right direction.
Becoming a healthier version of yourself isn’t a linear journey. There will be setbacks and moments where you feel like you’re falling behind or not doing enough. It’s important in those moments to remind yourself of all the steps you have already taken, and the goals you’ve already reached, and continue to push forward and become the version of you that you want to be.
You’re doing amazing, so simply keep pushing and trying and reminding yourself that it’s enough.
I have bigger things to worry about than what my body looks like to everyone else.
This is one of the longer affirmations and you may feel a bit silly saying it to yourself, but it’s incredibly important for gaining perspective on your priorities in life. Sometimes, due to health factors, becoming healthier is a necessity for bettering your life, and therefore it needs to be a priority.
But for most people, there are a hundred things happening in their life that take precedence over their body image. Family, jobs, social lives, hobbies – it’s okay to have priorities that are more important than losing weight or working out, and it’s okay if you miss going to the gym sometimes or take an extra cheat day here and there in order to concentrate on these other priorities.
Improving your relationship with your body doesn’t always have to be about actually changing your body – instead, it can be simply looking at yourself and saying, “Today I need to take care of myself in other ways.” Improving your mental and emotional health is just as important as working on physical health, and taking care of yourself in all three areas will really help encourage self-love.
My body carries me through life, and for that I am grateful.
All of these affirmations are great for improving your relationship with your body, but this one may be the most important of all. When was the last time you thanked yourself and your body for getting you through the hardships in life? When was the last time you acknowledged how far you’ve come and showed pride in the person you’ve transformed into?
Your body does so much for you – it carries you through life, tries to heal you when you’re sick, and wakes up every morning to usher you into a new day. It’s working hard for you, day in and day out, and it deserves to be recognized for all the amazing things it’s done.
We are constantly growing and changing and evolving, and the physical and mental changes you’ve gone through are incredible when you take a moment to recognize them. So thank your body for everything it’s gotten you through, and remember to appreciate how far you’ve come in life.
I am more than my body.
At the end of the day, affirmations about beauty and self-love can only get you so far if you don’t also take the time to recognize how much bigger you are than your physical body. People are made up of so many layers, and your body image and the way the world sees you at first glance is quite literally only skimming the surface of who you are.
Maybe you’re incredibly funny and have a knack for making people laugh, even in the most stressful of situations. Or maybe your kindness has brought joy and sunshine into more people’s lives than you could possibly recognize. If you’re hard-working, think of all the amazing things you’ve accomplished simply by being determined and willing to put in the time.
There is so much more to you than simply your body, and it’s important to affirm, acknowledge, and encourage all the aspects of who you are in order to improve your relationship with yourself.
You are deserving of all the kindness and love the world has to offer, and you should give love to yourself and remind yourself of how wonderful you are every day.
Do you know of more affirmations for improving our relationships with our bodies? Tell us in the comments!
About Draven Jackson
Draven is an avid writer and reader who enjoys sharing her opinions on movies, books, and music with the rest of the world. She will soon be working as a teacher in Japan and hopes to use her experience to connect with other teachers and students around the globe. Draven spends most of her time at home with her family, her dogs, and her ferret.
To see more, view all posts by Draven Jackson here.
