Tips for Boosting Positive Body Image

You may have heard the saying about “coming into your own.” You can apply this in your quest to boost a positive body image. Having a positive body image means appreciating and valuing your body as it is right now, focusing on your inner beauty and worth. You are more than your outward appearance. When you accept who you are while pursuing health, you become empowered.

How to Boost Positive Body Image

Promoting a positive body image takes a mindset shift. It involves learning to accept your body as it is now while simultaneously striving for a healthier lifestyle, both physically and mentally, as well as emotionally and spiritually.

When you accept what your body can do and focus on those benefits, you become empowered and confident. Here are ten tips for boosting positive body image.

Learn to shift your mindset

Negative thoughts only fuel a poor body image. These thoughts can turn perceived flaws into the focal point of your life. How often do you look in the mirror and zero in on a body part you don’t like?

Shifting your mindset takes practice. It is learning how to identify and analyze negative thoughts. Where do these thoughts come from? Is it a belief you’ve created based on other people’s words? Learn how to reframe these thoughts into body-positive affirmations. For example, instead of saying, “I hate how fat my thighs look,” consider stating, “My legs are strong, and I will keep them moving to stay mobile now and for years to come.”

Practice gratitude to God for your body

We often overlook blessings when we focus our attention on perceived flaws. We don’t think about being able to see or hear. We take for granted that for many of us, we have two arms and two legs. But when we thank God for the blessings, we begin to appreciate them and see them in a new light.

Practice gratitude by journaling three to five things you are grateful for about yourself. Not just physically with your appearance, but character traits as well. Try to write something new every day. For example, you could write, “Thank you, God, for the ability to stand tall when I need to reach. I know there are people who right now cannot stand on their own, but I am grateful for the ability at this time.”

Work to be healthy and strong

One of the fastest ways to become discontent with your body is to focus solely on attaining something that may be unattainable. For example, many people want to sculpt their bodies to look like a supermodel or a particular celebrity. Trying to be super skinny or achieve a body shape that doesn’t work for your body type and size only leaves you feeling like a failure.

Instead, work to be healthy and strong. Maintaining a healthy weight and BMI is important for lowering your risk of certain medical conditions and diseases, but it should not be the ultimate goal. Keep track of your progress, noting changes such as blood pressure, resting heart rate, or the number of push-ups you can do in one minute.

Take stock of your inner qualities

Life is more than your appearance. It is about what you bring into the world to share with others and how God can use you to fulfill a purpose. Each one of us has inner qualities and characteristics that make us special. We hold values. Maybe you are generous, kind, gentle, loyal, or assertive. You might value your faith, family, church family, and career.

Take stock of your inner qualities and the things you value most in the world. Allow these characteristics to boost your confidence. They are almost like being born with a superpower. Not everyone is generous, kind, patient, or persevering. As you set goals, check that your new goals align with your values. When the two are misaligned, it can affect your mental health.

Seek confidence through hobbies

Accomplishing a task or engaging in a meaningful hobby can boost your confidence and leave you feeling empowered. Often, we let our favorite hobbies and activities slip by due to busy schedules. However, engaging in activities that bring you joy will enhance your self-perception.

Make a list of your favorite hobbies and activities. Include interests you have never tried. Maybe you miss playing golf with your friends. Schedule a morning when you can get together. Consider downloading an app to learn a foreign language for free if you’ve never tried. Do something different, and watch your confidence soar with each achievement.

Limit social media

Social media has its pros and cons. It enables us to connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time. However, it also exposes us to negative body image messages from companies, influencers, celebrities, movies, the media, and social media followers.

Although we are aware that many images on platforms are edited, filtered, and enhanced with excellent lighting, it can be challenging to distinguish what we see from reality. After a few minutes of scrolling, many people feel depressed, anxious, and upset about their own appearance. Limit your social media exposure. Turn on a timer or avoid platforms until a specific day or time.

Create a nighttime routine

A nighttime routine increases the likelihood of experiencing good-quality sleep, staying asleep longer, and awakening more rested. Nighttime routines can be short but work best when they become a habit. Avoiding activities that interfere with the body’s natural rhythms will help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep.

Avoid working out or using a device for at least two hours before bed, as these activities can interfere with your sleep. The rush of endorphins from exercise and the blue light emitted from screens can disrupt melatonin production in the brain.

Consider turning off all devices two to three hours before bed. Choose a routine with only a few steps and practice nightly. You could take a warm bath, sip a cup of herbal tea or caffeine-free hot cocoa, read a book, or knit or crochet. Make your routine fit your life.

Practice self-care

Self-care and personal hygiene can go hand in hand, although not always. You want to feel at home in your body to feel confident. What does that look like for you? For some people, that means getting their hair and nails done (or doing it themselves), assembling a seasonal wardrobe, or using creams and lotions in a new scent.

For others, self-care could mean going to bed earlier or turning off the television in the evenings and reading until bedtime. Self-care could mean going out to meet a friend for lunch once a month or attending a local play or concert. Make a list of self-care activities that make you feel good about yourself.

Seek support for body image issues

Body image issues can trigger other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders. Disordered eating, eating that doesn’t fall within an eating disorder diagnosis, can also stem from or trigger poor body image. Consult a counselor or seek group support if body image issues interfere with your daily life.

Get to know God’s character

If you wanted to have a personal relationship with someone, you would like to know all about them. You would communicate with them and learn about their past, present, future, and character. In the same way, to have a personal relationship with Christ, you want to get to know Him. Get to know God’s character and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ by reading the Bibe daily.

Consider using a daily Bible reading plan to discover more about God and how He made you in His image and likeness, and how, as a Christ-follower, you embody God’s character traits if you are willing to embrace them.

Christian Counseling to Promote a Positive Body Image

If you are struggling to maintain a positive body image, contact our office today to schedule a session with a Christian counselor. Your counselor can offer more psychology-based strategies and create a customized plan for you. Call us today to get started.