Body Confidence: Silencing the Inner Critic
8 Steps to Your Bold and Confident Self
SELF DIRECTED ONLINE MODULES
Participate at your own pace.
SELF DIRECTED ONLINE MODULES
Participate at your own pace.
Fantastic Question! There are many contributing factors to body image, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
What does this look like? If only I lost 10 pounds, then I’ll be confident. When I am a size 6, then I will have improved body image and self-esteem. There are many examples where we tie EXTERNAL factors to our INTERNAL self-worth and body image.
THIS myth is a LIE!!!! How many times have we lost the weight or gained the goal fitness level, achieved the dress size… yet it doesn’t affect our self-worth or body image? What is the result? Yo-yo weight loss and shame for “letting ourselves go”, disordered eating, hiding or keeping ourselves from enjoying the relationships, social outings, family photos, beach vacations we want and deserve…
How is this possible? The focus on weight loss goals (the real reason we want to achieve weight loss in the first place) is many times not for the external results. We are simply DECIDING that our internal value is dictated by our external appearance.
The reason reaching those goals don’t improve our body image, self-esteem, and self-confidence is that all of these are part of a deeper understanding and acceptance of ourselves as an individual.
It is about non-comparison to others, as each of us is truly unique and full of unique life experiences.
Why do we focus on weight loss if we are supposed to be focusing on loving ourselves and accepting ourselves?
Society and media dictate the “standards for beauty”. The funny part of this myth is that society is continually changing its mind!
This year, athletic build is the standard of beauty. Last year, it might have been the boyish figure, and the year before curvy and voluptuous. NO WONDER we are confused!!!
The long-term conditioning of society has put the idea in our head that we must look a certain way, wear a certain size, etc. to be successful and worthy in life. WHAT A LOAD OF BS!!!
Guess what! EACH one of us is UNIQUE. We all have different bodies! There are a bunch of different “body types” and we can’t all fit into a one size fits all physique!!! Besides that, would it still be “attractive” if we ALL looked the same? Imagine shopping for that perfect dress, only you can’t find it in your size… because EVERY OTHER WOMAN ON EARTH is THE EXACT same size. BORING!!!!
Imagine, here you are believing you must be a certain size or shape, gifted with a different and unique shape, and losing the weight doesn’t result in you looking exactly like someone else (because you are an hourglass and that “ideal” you’re hoping for is an inverted triangle). You’ve achieved the goal and you are still unhappy… because you don’t fit into that box!
As a result, your body image suffers. The compare and despair situation where you’ve met the goals you set externally, but you don’t look the way you hoped. Maybe you make that MEAN that you are not as attractive or desirable as that “ideal body individual”. This is INTERNAL.
You had an external solution (the weight loss) for an internal struggle (body image and self-worth). This could result in a lower body image than before the weight loss. Maybe you had weight loss surgery or received assistance to lose the weight… this brings additional shame that you couldn’t do it on your own. There are many potential contributing factors that could lead to a lower body image and lower self-esteem
The effects of long-term conditioning, buying into the myths above, and the inner critic chipping away at your body image are all habits. They are learned behaviors. The good news is you can unlearn these behaviors, stop believing the myths, and change that inner voice to a constructive one!
It’s time to untether the bonds that have held you hostage to your inner critic, your low body image. It’s time to allow yourself to accept and love YOU… and your body…even while on a weight loss journey. This is much deeper than food or weight or dress size. We are talking about self-worth, self-esteem, self-acceptance.
Here are a couple quick tips to get you started shifting that body image:
A positive body image is much deeper than food or weight or dress size. It is about true acceptance and love of our unique individuality, the ability to destress (as we are no longer in comparison mode), the ability to love ourselves more fully as we revel in our own unique and beautiful inner and outer selves, and the acceptance of our perfect imperfection as we are on this journey called life!