Look in the mirror. What do you see?
Chances are the imperfections: cellulites, stretch marks, scars, moles, freckles, body hair, gap teeth, and the list goes on.
To be honest – I used to hate my flaws.
I smiled with a closed mouth because I was conscious of my upper canine teeth, or yaeba as the Japanese call it.
I wore baggy clothes because my stomach rolls made me insecure.
I used makeup to cover the scars and moles on my face.
The efforts to cover my imperfections worked – but it was just a temporary bliss.
At the end of each day when I stare at my bare face and body, I felt awful all over again.
Image source: Pexels
Body image is defined as the way we perceive our physical self and the thoughts and feelings that come with it – positive, negative, or both.
I’d lived with a negative body image throughout my teenage years, but something clicked when I grew older.
The statistics are staggering. Hold tight – we’re about to crunch some numbers:
91% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies. They turn to dieting to achieve the ‘perfect body shape’ which, as voted by 1,000 Americans, requires an average weight of 58 kg and a 26-inch waist on a 165-cm female. 40% of women are willing to have cosmetic surgeries to look better.
If you think that men don’t go through body image problems, these numbers will change your mind:
Over 20% of men considered going under the knife to alter their physical appearance.
Break Binge Eating estimated that 15% of young men belonging to the BMI 25 category admitted that they have engaged in several eating disorder behaviors such as skipping meals, vomiting, binge-eating, laxatives, fasting, and diuretics.
Let that sink in.
People are willing to go through extreme lengths to achieve the so-called perfection.
But what exactly is perfection, when all of us are born with different appearances, body shapes, and sizes?
I couldn’t find an answer to the burning question – but I reached a pivotal moment in my quest to overturn my negative body image.
I just couldn’t accept myself as I was.
The same goes to many individuals who spent years hating their own bodies because they look different.
How could we not feel any less than, when there are ridiculous beauty standards plastered on the front cover of beauty magazines, cosmetic stores, gyms, and boutiques?
Flawless skin, thin waist, and luscious hair; muscular hot-bod, sharp cheekbones, and chiseled jawline – come on, we’re not Barbie and Ken! 🙄
I’ll be honest with you: it is easier to hate your own body than to accept and love it as it is.
But when you work on self-acceptance, you will begin to look at your flaws as something uniquely yours.
It wasn’t an easy road, but I learned to repair my relationship with my body.
And it felt so liberating to accept my body just the way it is.
So, how do we tackle this body image issue?
Your flaws do not make you any less of a woman or man.
I grew up learning that to be beautiful is to have straight teeth. Imagine my surprise when I found out that having a fang-like appearance was actually a trend among Japanese girls! That definitely gave me a confidence boost – I now smile widely and unapologetically.
Unlearning the unrealistic beauty standards that you were fed with all your life does not happen overnight.
For starters, throw away the idea of beauty that was set by the society, media, or marketers. Appreciate someone else’s uniqueness instead of feeling inferior or superior about it.
We all have our differences, and that is okay. Remind yourself that no matter how you look, your body is still worthy.
Learn to love the only flesh you’ll ever have.
More often than not, we dislike our bodies to a point where we detach ourselves and become focused on fixing the flaws. From extreme dieting to cosmetic surgeries, these are unhealthy methods and not to mention, brutal towards your one and only body.
It’s time to accept our bodies and be comfortable in them, no matter what they look like, and no matter what others comment about it. As Taylor Swift once said in her song: “just shake it off!”
Focus on keeping your body in good condition by eating healthy, getting enough exercise, and dressing it in clothes that make you feel confident. Once you start to feel comfortable in your own body, you’re halfway there!
If you can’t bring yourself to say awful things to another person, then stop being mean to yourself!
Here’s something fun to do every morning: When you get out of bed, hug yourself or pat your shoulders and say something nice to yourself. Even better, thank it for being safe and well. Your body is one of the main reasons why you’re still standing and getting on your day. Show it some gratitude!
Spending a few minutes appreciating your looks can be a great confidence booster that keeps you in a good mood throughout the day.
Repeat after me: This is not a competition!
We’re living in the social media age where we’re too used to comparing ourselves against the lives of those around us. From friends and family to celebrities *cough* the Kardashians *cough*, we are obsessed with having the same body as the ones we follow on Instagram or TikTok. But how sure are we that those images aren’t staged?
To have a positive body image is to stop the comparisons. Let go of the idea that there’s a specific look that every man and woman should have to look beautiful.
Negative body image is a serious problem that not only affects women, but men as well. If left unbothered, it can bring about disastrous effects such as depression, eating disorders, and even self-harm. Don’t lose your genuine self for external beauty.
And hey, when you look in the mirror – tell yourself that you’re beautiful. 😊
Check out these feel-good articles while you’re here!
Jocelyn Cheng (JC) is an INFP writer seeking to spread inspiration and spark connections through her words. Her dedication to writing has gifted her with an ability to write for multiple platforms (e.g., website, social media, newspaper, magazine, etc) in different fields, namely Education, Travel, and Lifestyle. JC personalizes her works by adding a touch of her own experience into the mix whenever she can to relate to her readers. A self-proclaimed poet and currently a freelance writer, she's working on an untitled poetry book at home while juggling between writing for Eduloco, dancing, and keeping her only plant alive.
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