I had a four-week vacation. July and August are ideal months of the year for beach vacations and sun exposure in Europe. This month’s topic is body image and how it affects us.
Many universities and online platforms around the world are regularly conducting surveys on body image. Having a negative body image can be difficult to manage. Social media has an impact on many of us; it is not our best friend. It’s difficult to distinguish between what is real and fake these days. What I have learnt through my work and social interactions with men and women is that body image concerns have a big impact on people of all sizes, ages, and genders (probably more so on women).
We cannot love someone else when we don’t love ourselves. We can never have a wonderful relationship or a happy life if we don’t totally love and accept who we are.
Are you dating after a certain age? Are you prone to assuming that dating is more difficult and that finding love is harder when you’re older? Or that inner voice saying, “I’m less appealing than I was ten years ago.”
In fact, the “I’m not good enough” belief can make you feel like:
- You’re “not good enough” to date your crush, or that you should settle for someone who is “safe” or “fine” but who doesn’t make your heart jump with joy.
- Your weight loss and health goals are impossible because they’re too much effort.
- You need quick fixes to numb and distract yourself, such as retail therapy and buying something against your physicality or your personality, a one-night stand, or a bottle of wine.
However, none of these solutions truly “fix” us. They make us feel more alone, depleted, and depressed. We look for someone or something to make us happy because we believe the cause of our sadness is “out there.”. One thing is for sure: our body image is influenced by our own belief system. Your beliefs are the product of your programming.
I have to say that I place high importance on my physical image in relation to mental and emotional health, longevity free of sickness, and more. At the end of the day, we have one life to live, and I like to live it the best way I can.
According to the study, having a decent appearance makes us feel better about ourselves. However, it won’t “cure” fundamental problems because it requires deep healing. Research indicates that knowing what works for you and how to convey your personality through your style and appearance can make you feel more confident. After all, you want the world to see you as the real you. Discovering your personal style might make you feel better for a multitude of reasons.
- Loving yourself means you don’t hide who you really are.
- You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
Being at peace with yourself allows you to focus your attention on creating what you want rather than protecting what you don’t want to lose.