Body positivity is something that I frequently write about; it's a topic that I feel very strongly about. With so much negativity swirling around these days regarding the way people look, I think it's important for people to know that they are more than what the scale says. Everywhere you look you see models in their underwear, someone tweeting about how if you're a certain weight you shouldn't wear certain clothes, or someone trying the newest diet program, or people tweeting very self-conscious things. I'm not one to judge, I believe that everyone is beautiful in their own way. But with all of these new diets and passive aggressive tweets I have to wonder, does anybody truly love themselves anymore? Like 100% in love with the way they look? If losing weight will make you truly love yourself, then by all means go for it! But if you're having trouble loving yourself here is a brief Beginners Guide to Loving Yourself.
The first step you should take in order to love yourself is simple: dance around your room in your underwear. I'm serious! I have never felt more confident than when I've been dancing around my room half naked. It gives you a chance to see yourself without the clothes you might so often hide behind. So put on your favorite playlist, strip down, and dance it out! If you're having trouble finding songs you like to get you in the mood check out Spotify's many mood playlists under the browse section.
The next step is to delete any negativity from your life. Have an acquaintance that always tweets sad stuff about her own appearance? Unfollow them! Seeing their negative tweets will make you start thinking negative things as well. Instead follow people who post more body positive things. If you're thinking about losing weight, follow people who are also losing weight. These types of people will inspire you. As much as we like to say social media isn't a big influence in our lives it is. If you follow people who post negative things you'll have a more negative mindset and vice versa.
Another way to begin loving yourself is the most simple way in this brief guide: just do it. No, I'm not endorsing Nike, if you want to love yourself wholeheartedly just start doing it. I know it isn't as easy as it sounds. Everyone has things about themselves that they find undesirable. I consider myself to be a pretty confident person and I still have days where I have trouble loving myself. But in the end I always choose to love myself. Choose to ignore what the models look like and what the negative people say. Everyday wake up and love yourself. When you have those negative thoughts, because they do occur, push them far, far away and replace them with positives.
Like I said, I know that loving oneself is not always easy. But like most things you learn to do, you have to try. Everyday try to love yourself. It will take time, but if you make an effort everyday it will happen. Remember that you are so much more than the way you look. Beauty is a social construct and because of that beauty can include every shape, size, and color. Social constructs aren't easy to change, but if everyone starts to look at it in a different light it could change.
