5 Easy Steps to Body Confidence
Feeling uncomfortable in your own skin? Here are 5 simple things to build body confidence.
Body Confidence Krysti Beckett
It’s not just you. Everyone is unsatisfied with their body at some point in their life. It could be the way we think it looks, the way it feels or the way it performs. Whatever it is that you are unsatisfied with, there are simple things you can do to change how you feel about your body and all of its quirks. Here are 5 easy steps to body confidence:
1. Thank your body and appreciate what it does for you
Take a moment to thank your body for all it has done for you. Maybe it has recovered from injury or created tiny humans. Whatever you have gone through, your body has carried you. On your very best days and your very worst, your body has worked hard to keep you alive and allowed you to take care of others. Breathe deeply and thank your body for all it has done for you. You can also offer a prayer of thanks to your Creator.
2. Take responsibility for how you have gotten to where you are
What is it specifically that you don’t like? Is it your looks? Is it the way your body feels? Is it the way it performs? Whatever it is, take full responsibility for its current condition. Some things can be blamed on genetics, but your habits cannot. Acknowledge what you are doing well and admit what things you could do to take better care of yourself.
3. Acknowledge what is in your control
In some cases, you might have disability, autoimmune diseases and other things that have nothing to do with how you live. Acknowledge that you have no control over this. Make a decision to love yourself anyway for the things your body can do and choose to not focus on what it can’t. When these negative things flare up, decide how you are going to love your body and care for it when it needs you most.
4. Make small steps to take care of your body to get to where you want to be
I might not know who you are personally, but I know you are human. I know you do some things really well, but also that you self sabotage and do things you know aren’t good for you. You aren’t alone, I do it too. Maybe it’s the drive thru because it’s just easier. Maybe it’s social media. Maybe it’s Netflix. Or the extra wine that goes with Netflix. Decide on one thing you will change this week to take care of your body.
5. Make the mirror your friend
Take a look in the mirror (full length if possible) and admire your body. What parts are really awesome? Strong? Beautiful? Express gratitude with a deep breath and a smile.
Here’s how to start:
Wear something that makes you feel confident, beautiful or sexy. Heck, you don’t have to wear anything at all!
Examine any part of your body and give yourself a smile as you think about a positive attribute. Start with a part of your body you like, you’ve been complimented on or does a particular task well.
Replace negative thoughts. You may be tempted to criticize yourself. This is very common. Negative thoughts like to sneak in even when we are trying our very best. Take a deep breath and replace that thought with a positive thought. Instead of thinking “I hate the shape of my legs”, replace it with “My legs are strong and support me every day.”
Allow yourself to feel whatever may come. Mirror work is very powerful but also very emotional. This is part of the process of loving yourself and feeling confident.
Have I taken you out of your comfort zone? The mirror work can be awkward. When I first started doing this kind of body appreciation, it felt pointless. It felt weird to like or admire myself. I was also embarrassed and worried my husband would walk in and catch me doing something weird. The reality is my husband likes my body more than I like it! Those negative thoughts in my head? They were not true and I had to work on replacing them.
The beautiful thing about mirror work is that you can do as little or as much as you like. I recommend every day at least once.
Putting it into practice
Action: Write a positive truth about your body on a post it note and stick it to your mirror. Read it every time you walk by that mirror. Feeling confident? Say it out loud!
Journal Prompt: Body, thank you for ______
