Roughly 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies. Only 5 percent of women actually have the body type that is most commonly portrayed in American media.
After reading these two statistics it is clear that women strive for a body type that is in the very minority of our culture. This body standard is constantly portrayed in the media, which leads us to believe that it is the norm in our culture. This consistent overrepresentation in the media of slim yet curvy figures leads women to believe that they must meet this standard in order attain a high enough level of beauty.
Maintaining positive body image is very difficult, especially in a culture where media is at the center of everything. We are constantly being criticized on social media while simultaneously criticizing others. It requires a strong sense of self to uphold a feeling of confidence with your body. Not listening to anyone else and trusting your own definition of confidence can lead to appreciating the way that you look.
The best way of doing this is figuring out how you actually define self-worth. Once you have a definition of self-worth, you can start listening to yourself and not what others say. Having your own definition helps you avoid comparing yourself because your definition belongs to you and no one else.
Something else that can be difficult is separating your emotional feelings from the way that you actually feel about your body. Let's say you had a hard day at school or at work; it's easiest to come home and take it out on yourself. This may cause you to feel unattractive or not good enough. Instead of immediately jumping to this conclusion, try to think about what actually made you upset that day, and try to address it directly. This may distract you from these negative body image thoughts so that you can channel this energy towards something productive. Simply doing this can have immediate effects on the negative sentiments you previously had about your body.
An important thing to remember is that it is okay to compliment yourself. There is a stigma that surrounds our society in which girls feel conceded when complimenting the way that they look. But actually giving yourself a compliment out loud can be an incredibly productive way to improve your body image. Although it may seem weird at first, if you give it a try, you may find that it will work for you.
Appreciate the body you were given! Sometimes we forget the amazing things that it can do. So always take care of it, and give it a compliment every once in a while!
