Did you know that your body image determines the food you eat, your attitude towards exercise, and the relationships you create and maintain?
How you think and feel about yourself determines the body you create. If you create a body that you feel confident about, you tend to be happier in relationships and in social interactions.
This doesn't mean that you should create a "perfect" body, but one that you feel alive in regardless of shape and size.
In order to understand how you think and feel about your body, it's helpful to get in touch with your own personal body image stories. In other words, what life experiences have shaped your thoughts and feelings toward your body?
The best way to do this is through reflection and journaling.
How to uncover your personal body image storiesIn the previous post, you learned how to begin the self-discovery process of your current body image through a self-assessment. Today, you will take your self-discovery a little further by uncovering stories from your past, which will help you to gain a better understanding of the body image you carry today.
After all, you can't change what you don't understand.
The guidelines to journaling are as follows:- Go to a quiet place where you are free to think and reflect upon your past. Picture your body and the experiences that influenced your own body image development.
- Grab a piece of paper, and split into 3 sections: 0-9 years, 10-20 years, and 20+ years of age.
- For each age range, ask yourself, "What did my body look like?" Honesty is important here.
- After you answer the question, ask yourself, "What influences or experiences shaped that image of myself?" Media, family, friends, and ethnicity can all be influences. Write down any feedback, comments, judgments, and expectations you can remember.
When you do this exercise, you are able to see the experiences emotions, and thoughts that created your personal body image.
Journaling is not something you have to do every day; in fact 3 days a week for no more than 20 minutes at a time is a great place to start. Don't rush through the answers, and be honest with yourself so that you are able to eventually create positive stories and heal.
In the next post, we will take your journaling a little further by digging deeper into your experiences. This will help you to understand your personal body image even further, which is necessary if you want satisfying relationships and a meaningful life.
What personal body image struggles do you deal with? Feel free to leave feedback in the comments section below!
About the author
Pamela Brown, The Body Confidence Breakthrough Queen, helps women who are at war with their bodies to build the confidence to create and maintain a healthy body, and take charge of their life. For more strategies and tips on building a positive body image, visit her site at www.pamelabrowncoaching.com.
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