These days it is so difficult not to get caught up in comparing yourself to others, thinking that you are not where you want to be and being overly critical of how you look. This post is about how to change that mindset and embrace who you are and how you look.
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Negative Body Image
It doesn't matter who you are, whether you are male or female, super fit or not so fit, negative body image can affect everyone. Over the years I've seen this firsthand so many times, people who to anybody else look great but consistently find flaws with their bodies. Initially this can be a good motivator for getting in shape and is not too unhealthy but if you have been working out for years and are in good shape but continually focus on what is not good about your body, then this can start to become a problem and if this unhealthy self-body image is not corrected it can become dangerous at worst and mentally and physically draining at best. So how do we change this behavior?
Positive Body Image
Learning how to retrain your mind to focus on the positive aspects of your body instead of dwelling on the negative is so important but does take some time and focus, so in this quick post I am going to give you a few tips to help you get started.
Start by looking at yourself differently: start focusing on what you like about your body, think about all the progress that you have made and not what you haven't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you not to keep pushing yourself or continue to work on your problem areas, just don't put too much focus on them. Work from a healthy mindset instead of an unhealthy one and you will get much better results in the long run.
Do not put too much of your focus on others: We are all different and that's a great thing! Spending your time obsessing over how great you think other people look on social media, at the gym or anywhere you spend your time comparing yourself to others is a huge part of the problem these days and is absolutely detrimental to your mental and physical health. If you find any of these things bringing about more negative feelings than positive, then it is probably a good idea to change your focus, maybe stop following certain accounts or publications if they don't serve you well and when you are at the gym, just stay focused on yourself and learn to enjoy your workouts instead of focusing on and comparing yourself to the other people around you.
Learn how to love who you are: This is super important! You are uniquely different from everybody else (as we all are) and you should learn to embrace this instead of fighting it. It's time for you to love who you are and focus your energy on all the positive things about yourself, after all you started working out for you right? To be healthier and stronger than you were when you began and most likely you are, even if it's just a little bit. Putting your focus back on to yourself and all the positive things that you either have or will accomplish on your health journey should be your only focus! Feel good about the time and effort you're putting in and celebrate the small victories along the way.
Stay Focused
Remember, changing your focus will require time and effort. If you find yourself slipping back into old thought patterns, don't be too hard on yourself. Instead, learn to identify such behavior and when it occurs, remind yourself to refocus and stop those negative thoughts. With practice, you'll notice a decrease in the frequency of these thoughts, and you'll become better at staying focused and content with yourself. It's important to remember that meaningful change takes time, and there will be both successes and setbacks along the way. Nevertheless, learning to embrace your true self and finding happiness within is a journey well worth the effort!
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