We all have images in our minds of what we believe we look like. Our unique body image belief. And when we see a picture of ourselves that doesn’t match our belief about ourselves, it can throw us a curveball.
While looking through pictures from my recent vacation to the mountains, I stumbled across a picture of myself I didn’t particularly like. My mind started racing.
“On my gosh. Is that what I really look like? I shouldn’t have had that Pop-tart for breakfast…”
Pretty cruel, right? But before I go any farther, I want you to know something.
You’ll never truly know what your body looks like. You’ll never be able to completely answer the question of what you really look like.
To be completely honest, you’ll never know what your body looks like since you’re the one inhabiting it. You’ll never know what your body looks like to others. You can get visuals from pictures, mirrors, and videos but you’ll never truly know your body’s true essence.
Like the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh, how you breathe when you’re sleeping, or how your body moves when you dance across the kitchen. And that’s okay.
So let’s continue with the story.
After looking through the photos, I turned to my boyfriend and asked if that was what I looked like.
He mumbled something about it being a weird angle (which it was) and then shared a story of a picture of him taken over 5 years ago that still bothered him.
He said that after seeing the picture, even though it was over 5 years ago, he was always self-conscious of this one part of his body. Even years later…from one picture!
My perspective completely shifted.
Everyone has insecurities about their bodies. Most of which other people don’t even notice.
Did you get that? Everyone has insecurities. You’re not alone in that.
So with that in mind, here are my top body image acceptance tips to support you when you see a picture you don’t like of yourself:
- As I said before, everyone has insecurities. Even the girl at the beach in the bikini who looks confident, the girl on Instagram who seems so perfect, and your best friend. At some point or another, everyone will look at a picture of themselves they don’t like. It’s human nature and you’re not alone in that.
- Become aware that what you’re self-conscious about, no one else even is likely aware of. You don’t judge other people for small things on their bodies so why would you expect other people to do that to you? Release the judgments you have towards yourself, especially in pictures.
- Stop being mean to yourself! So that wasn’t the most flattering picture you’ve ever seen. So what? Does that make you any less of a person than before you saw the picture? Give yourself some space, in the beginning, to get out all your thoughts and feelings but then let them go. Judging yourself is not a long-term solution and it’s not going to make you feel good about yourself. Release that.
- Understand that a picture is only one split second in time. The fullness of you, your body, and your essence cannot be captured in one split second in time. It is impossible.
- Realize that angles, body positioning, time of the day, lighting, and even time of the month can have noticeable effects on your body. Are you facing the camera head-on or turned to the side? Did you have two glasses of water or a big meal right before the picture? How is the lighting? Is it the week before your cycle? There are so many factors that can affect your body and how it appears in one single picture. Bodies are constantly changing and not static. Realizing this was a huge game-changer for me.
- Look deeper and discover what the picture is all about. Move past how you feel about your body on a surface level and take a good look at yourself in the picture. What are you experiencing, feeling, and celebrating in the photo? Recognize the unique, beautiful, and amazing human being you are. Are you giggling on the beach during your vacation? Are you looking shyly at the camera because it caught you by surprise? Recognize the various ways you and your body are unique and deserving of celebration, regardless of your appearance.
- Ask yourself why this is triggering you. Is there something going on deeper that you need to look at? What can you do to move forward from a loving place, instead of focusing on fixing and trying to solve a problem (because you are not a problem!)?
- Once you can release the judgment, you’ll begin to discover if there are better ways to take care of yourself. If you still love and accept the person in the photo, you’re in a better position to ask yourself what you need to be doing to feel more comfortable in your body.
Here are 2 questions to promote body acceptance and improve your body image:
- Is there something that would feel better for my body than what I am currently doing?
- Have I been handling my emotions, stress, and day to day life in a way that works for me and my body?
For me, seeing those pictures made me realize I was in a different stage of my life than I have been in the past. My body was softer and fuller because I wasn’t running as much due to time commitments and an on again off again injury. I focused more on mental and emotional health than physical health. And that’s okay. I was taking care of myself in a different way than in the past when my body looked different. Nothing was wrong. Nothing needed to change.
Pictures are memories, not torture devices. The sooner you can put these practices into motion (especially when you find a picture of yourself that you aren’t particularly fond of), the sooner you’ll be able to appreciate what is truly there. A captured moment in time as a beautiful way to reflect and reminisce on wonderful moments in life.
Want to dive even deeper into body acceptance and improving your body image? Check out the free 3-day Body Acceptance video series, where you’ll learn how to connect with your body, embrace what is, and finally love who you are. Plus, it’s free! Learn the power of complete body image acceptance + join women all over the world here.
Wondering what it truly looks like to accept your body? Check it out here.