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5 Ways to Improve Your Body Positivity

Learning to truly love and accept your body—flaws and all—can be a challenging journey. Nowadays, Photoshop, filters, and social media seem to rule the universe. We sometimes live in a distorted version of reality, as we’re constantly subject to everyone’s pretty pictures and highlight reels.

Now more than ever, people are saying no to society’s unrealistic standards. At last, people are realizing you can be healthy without a six-pack. You can look good and not kill yourself at the gym. You can have stretch marks and still be beautiful. Slowly but surely, we’re learning to separate our appearances from our worth and recognize that our differences are what make us unique.

This may be easier for some and more difficult for others. If you’re in the boat of this being a difficult issue for you, don’t worry. The practice of loving who you are doesn’t happen overnight, but working through the five steps below can help you take a step in the right direction.

1. Focus on the things you love about yourself.

Instead of always noticing the things you don’t like about yourself, make an effort to call out the things you do like. If it helps, keep a notepad by your bed and write down three things you like about yourself every night. In the morning, read those three things to yourself.

Easier said than done, but just remember that everyone is on a different path and in a different place on their journey. Even someone you admire and think is the perfect person probably has their fair share of insecurities, too. Even Cindy Crawford once said, "I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford."

Exercising and eating well are two things commonly associated with changing your physical appearance, but both are so much more than that. When paired together, they can truly heal your mind and body. Nothing gets those endorphins (your body’s all-natural happy drug!) fired up faster than moving your body. Then when you couple it with wholesome foods that nourish and energize your body, it can only lead to good things.

This applies to yourself and others. In the long run, what we say and think about ourselves tends to become our reality. Every time a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with two positive thoughts.

5. Surround yourself with the right people.

In the words of Karen Marie Moning, “Who and what we surround ourselves with is who and what we become.” Find those who uplift and encourage you, and you’re sure to find yourself in a more positive place.

At the end of the day, it’s more than just being comfortable in your skin and feeling good about yourself. It’s about truly accepting and loving yourself exactly the way you are.

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People Need People: The Positive Effects of Socializing

As human beings, we are social creatures by nature. Instinctively, we don’t like feeling alone, and our bodies and brains actually function better when we are surrounded by others. We are basically wired to be social. If you were to google “why humans need humans” or anything along those lines, you’ll find a plethora of articles explaining why social connections and friendships are vital to our health and well-being. Outside of our family units, when we have friends we can lean on, laugh with, cry with, and talk to, we are nourishing ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. We need that connectivity not only to survive, like this article suggests, but to thrive. Whether you’re someone who prefers to have just a few really close pals, or you’re a social butterfly with a lot of friends, at the end of the day, we need those relationships. Here are the top three reasons we need friendships in our lives! Friendships improve our health Research has shown that having strong social connections is vital to our health. For starters, it can reduce stress levels, ward off depression and suicide, lower the risk of dementia, heart disease, and cancer, as well as boost our immune system...and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also easier to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle when you have the support of friends and family. Friends extend our life expectancy Aside from improving our overall health, maintaining friendships can also add years to our lives—just like regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and not smoking. Multiple studies have found that people who have positive relationships with their family, friends, and community are happier and tend to live longer. Some studies have even gone as far to conclude that social belongingness is just as important as physical survival needs, such as food and shelter. Friends make life more fun This might not be a mind-blowing revelation, but friends bring an abundant amount of happiness to our lives. While I’m sure you can find enjoyment doing certain things solo, I’d argue that most things are more fun when you do it with someone else. There’s an unexplainable joy that comes from sharing experiences with people we care about. Studies have shown, including this one conducted back in 2011, that having meaningful social relationships affects our neurobiological endogenous opioid system (think endorphins), triggering the part of the brain that makes us feel good. Simply put, connecting and interacting with our friends gives us happy feelings. Ever caught up with an old friend, then felt really good afterwards? Those are your endorphins kicking in, telling you that what you just did is healthy for your emotional and physical health! So, no matter what stage of life you’re in, make it a priority to get out and do things with your friends. Whether it’s a quick phone call or grabbing lunch, keep your friends close and remember to have fun!

5 Ways to Improve Your Body Positivity

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