Self- esteem and body image

Self-esteem

Self-esteem is how you respect and value yourself as a person. It is the real opinion that you have of yourself. Self-esteem impacts how you take care of yourself physically, mentally ,emotionally and spiritually .Body image and self esteem also influence one another. If you hate your body, it is not easy to feel good about your body.

Body image

Body image is how and what you think and feel  about your body Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and how you perceive yourself when you look at a mirror. Body image includes the picture of your body that you have in your body, which may or may not match your body's actual size, weight, height, shape etc.

Types of body image

There are two types of body images :

1. Positive Body Image

It is also called healthy body image. The individuals ,who accept the way they look and feel good about their bodies ,have a positive or healthy body image. For having a positive or healthy body image you are not required to be thin or tall or have  a particular physical trait . In fact it does not matter what you look like from outside. For having a positive or healthy body image is thinking about the way you physically  feel and what your body can don't just the way you look. To have  a healthy body also means that you see yourself as you really are.

2. Negative Body image 

Negative Body Image is also known as unhealthy body image.Negative body image means being unhappy with the way you look .It is usually link with the desire to change the body shape, size, height, weight , etc. This type of body image develops when an individual feels that his body features do not match with social or media ideals.

Negative body image leads to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. They may suffer various problems such as anorexia, bulimia ,over exercising, over eating etc. They usually cut themselves off from being with the other people socially and stop doing healthy activities that are required to show their bodies such as exercising, swimming, etc. They think other individual are much attractive than them.

Factors influencing Self- esteem and body image

There are various factors which influence your self-esteem and body image. These factors are stated below :

1. Puberty and development

A number of teenagers struggle with their self-esteem and body image when puberty begins because during this period, the body undergoes a number of changes. They start to compare their body with others (I have been there, and trust me that period was very depressing . I am skinny so people used to call me and today even they call me tili or halki , it sounds funny to them but for me it was kind of serious thing, i used to cry but now when i have accepted the way i look i am happy and more optimistic than earlier , now the main motto of my life is to live healthy and eat healthy without thinking or caring about others, it's your life so the anchor of your ship should be in your hands rather than someone else's ♥️).

2. Media images

During teenage, teenagers  become more aware of celebrities and media images. They usually start to compare themselves with media images and celebrities. Print media also affect how the teenagers feel about themselves and their body images

3.Family and school

We don't develop our body image on our own. Comments on looks by other people may lead to both positive or negative body image. The family, society or school can influence one's self esteem or body image. 

4. Life experience and natural ageing process

Experiences in life and ageing are also significant factors that may lead to low self esteem or negative body image. When our body contours different changes due to natural ageing  process, we have different feelings about our body. As a matter of fact, individuals may experience negative comments about the way  they look from other people. 

How to improve Self-esteem and Body Image ?

If you lay stress to following points you are more likely to improve your body image and self-esteem

1. To have a positive and optimistic attitude

One should try to have a positive and optimistic attitude in life. Participation in physical activities also enhances positive attitude which ultimately improves body image as well as self-esteem (Since i have started to do yoga it helped me to stay fresh whole day and also i got much  buoyant than before . )

2. To recognize that beauty and health come in all sizes.

Everyone' s beautiful in their own way and it's essential to know that our body is unique. Our bodies are diverse and no one's body shape or size is a healthy or right one for everybody else . Each individual's heredity influences one's body structures, body size, shape, and weight differently. You should recognize that beauty, health and strength exist in all sizes. so you should feel comfortable and confident in your natural body shape.

3. Professional help

Professional help from  a therapist may also be useful. You can learn to focus on your strengths as well as developing  a healthier thinking.

4.To stop your intrinsic negative comments

When you hear negative comments coming from the core of your heart, stop them immediately  if you want to improve your body image and self-esteem . We are  a complex individual changing spontaneously. Try to concentrate on what is unique and interesting about yourself instead of brewing negative comments about yourself.

5.To give compliments about good things done by you

Giving compliments to yourself for the good things that you have done will give you immense pleasure . If you do such things regularly you can change how you feel about yourself.

6.To change  your lifestyle

Changes in your lifestyle such as adopting a specific diet and well planned  exercise in order to lose weight, gain muscles or change in body shape and size can be a healthy choice. Such practice will definitely help in improving body image and self-esteem.

At last , i would say , Sweeties!  you all are beautiful in your own way  love yourself,  ,falling in love with yourself is the one and only secret to happiness

Speak to your body in a loving way. It's the only one you've got , it's your home and it deserves your respect♥️.

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Thank you so much for reading til' the end.

Stay tuned for more blogs until' then 

Stay chirpy Stay content 

💛XOXO💛