Resources

Body Neutrality

It’s ok to admit that you don’t necessarily love everything about your body. It’s ok to feel neutral or even indifferent about your body. Your worth and value do not lie in your shape or your size or in any other aspect of your appearance. Body image does play a part in self-concept, but it isn’t everything. None of these things are easy. They take continual effort and, in most cases, it’s not something you can perfectly achieve. There will be moments when you feel weak, when you dislike aspects of yourself, and when you compare yourself to others. The key is to keep trying to find new ways to avoid the negative thought patterns contribute to poor body image.

Focusing on Self-Care

Self-care can sometimes masquerade as a way to change or control your appearance, but self-care should focus on doing things that make you feel good about the body you have now. Show respect for your body. Eat healthy meals because it fuels your mind and body. Exercise because it helps you feel strong and energized, not because you’re trying to change or control your body. Wear and buy clothes for the body you have now—not for some planned future version of yourself. Look for things that make you feel comfortable and good about how you look. Purge your social media feeds of accounts that don’t make you feel good about yourself. Follow accounts that spark your interests and that leave you with positive feelings.