Beyond Body Image: Taking a Deeper Look at Self-Worth

Part 1 of the Beyond Body Image Series

Beneath the Surface of Body Image

Social media is buzzing with discussion about body image these days. The Dove Real Beauty Campaign has received a significant amount of attention for a recent video they published, in which women described themselves to a sketch artist. Next, strangers were asked to describe each of the women to the same artist. The drawings were then placed side-by-side, revealing significant differences between the two descriptions of the same person. The women in the video seemed to sigh a deep breath of relief when they realized that their own body descriptions were more cynical than how others described them. The video ended with the words, “You are more beautiful than you think.” Something about that message has captivated the attention of women, as tens of millions have viewed and shared it throughout the World Wide Web. Moral of the story: women want to be beautiful. That may seem like an obvious statement, but have you ever stopped to ask why this is such a big deal to us? It seems to occupy most women’s minds much more than our desire for intelligence, wealth, or any other social status symbol. As a counselor, I have sat with enough women working to uncover deep-seated insecurities about their core value as human beings to know that beauty only touches the surface of what women are really looking for. Beyond the skin-deep search for outward beauty, clients often express a deep desire to know that they are worthy of love.

Learning to Gaze Inward

Physical beauty has become one of the biggest determining factors for how women assess their self-worth. We carry in our minds the belief that, “If I am beautiful, I am valuable.” Since physical beauty is culturally-defined, highly subjective, and changes over time, our feelings of worthiness are easily shaken; as we view magazine images we just can’t compare with, receive negative feedback from others, or go through seasons of life that affect the shape of our bodies (age, pregnancy, PMS, etc.). Even positive messages like those from the Dove Real Beauty Campaign can reinforce a powerful lie that physical beauty is all that matters. I don’t want to belittle the body either. How we feel about our bodies is incredibly important; but as we fixate on feeling physically attractive, we often miss opportunities to nurture our souls. If we shift our gaze inward, we might find opportunities to cultivate deeper levels of healing.

Seeking the Truth About Body Image

In this article series, I want to invite women to look beyond the surface of body image to uncover what they truly believe about themselves. When I listen to women express anxieties and beliefs about their bodies, I often observe unspoken connections to their beliefs about God, their role on earth, and their intrinsic value as human beings. Taking time to explore these connections can help us unlock powerful, healing truths. In Part 2 of this series, I will outline some of the common lies that women believe about their bodies and how those lies relate to other aspects of their self-worth. In Part 3, I will identify what scripture has to say about our value and where it truly comes from.

Christian Counseling for Body Image Struggles

Many different aspects of our lives shape how we feel about our bodies or our value as human beings. Life experiences, relationships, and culture can act as mirrors through which we perceive our worth, and often leave us feeling as if we don’t measure up. If you would like to talk with a professional Christian counselor about your struggles with self-worth, I would be happy to meet with you. In counseling, we can explore what personal experiences have shaped your perceptions and journey towards truth and healing.

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