Let’s talk about body positivity. I want to start out with one of my favorite quotes by the amazing Eleanor Roosevelt; “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Let’s take a moment and dissect this simple yet extraordinary quote.
Our society has been telling us how to look and how to act for so long that we have lost all ability to see our own self worth and natural beauty. Women are told that we should “act like a lady” and nothing on us should jiggle (even after giving birth to a human being. Ya know, because creating life isn’t cool or anything.) Men are told that they have to “be a man,” which means trying to fit the image of being strong, tall, and athletic. These unrealistic expectations have caused many people to become part of the masses and try to look like everyone else, throwing originality to the wind. But why, if we are already aware of these unrealistic societal pressures are we still trying to meet those expectations?
Behind a computer screen, people feel a false sense of power. They feel like they can say and do anything they want without any repercussions. They can judge someone based on their appearance and body shame them without having to face them in real life. For many people who have to dealt with these people, it can be difficult to bounce back and keep your mind in a positive and healthy place regarding your body image and self worth. But let’s refer back to what Eleanor said. No one has the right or enough power to make you feel inferior without YOUR consent. Even though you may not be able to silence the person spreading hatred, you can stop the negative voice in your head that sees every imperfection. You have the right to tell that voice to stop.
Love yourself; your beautiful, imperfect self. There is only one YOU, so be the best YOU that you can be.
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