What is one of the first things you put aside in order to complete other tasks? Chances are, your workouts are put on pause, as are your personal interests. When we neglect our health, it can further impact our priorities; if we don’t feel good about how we look or how physically fit we are we may be less inclined to put ourselves out there personally or professionally.
Work, hobbies, exercise, eating well, developing personal relationships, caring for loved ones– all those responsibilities add up. Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough daylight hours to get everything done to have a fulfilling life.
Prioritizing Wellness
When high-priority tasks push other things to the back burner, we can start to lose confidence in ourselves. We can get caught up in how many to-do list items we check off each day, and berate ourselves for what we have to neglect. If your health and wellness are one of them, let’s take a look at the ways that are detrimental to your overall confidence and success.
How Body Image Affects Self-Esteem in Teens
Living in a world inundated with social media filters, teens are being exposed to more unrealistic beauty and body image standards than ever before. It used to be that advertising, TV shows, and movies were the main channels exposing kids to intimidating standards of what’s beautiful. Now, any time they look at social media they see people their age with filters that give the appearance of perfection.
Without proper disclosure, these filtered faces have a big, negative impact on today’s youth. Teens aren’t able to discern what’s realistic and what’s anatomically unattainable. With everyone online looking perfect, more teens and young adults are taking filtered photos to plastic surgeons in an effort to look like the smooth-faced, doe-eyed, photoshopped images they see daily.
This is why it’s important to put an emphasis on a body’s or mind’s strengths, especially those which can’t be seen. Help the teens in your life accept their bodies and appreciate what they are capable of. Remind them there’s no such thing as the perfect body, and what we see in the media usually isn’t real.
Compliments to Give Teens
It can be hard to give a compliment that isn’t based on appearance. But it’s important so children and teens don’t think their success in life is only tied to their looks. Here are some compliments you can give to the youth in your life that has nothing to do with how their bodies look.
- I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished!
- You make me feel important.
- I love how passionate you are about [sports, education, art, etc…]
- You’re brave to try [XYZ].
- I appreciate the example you set for others.
- I love your imagination.
- I like your sense of style and how you pair colors, textures, etc…
- Your attitude about [XYZ] is helpful!
- I love being around you.
- I admire you for [XYZ].
- With that approach, you’ll go far in life!
- I like how you listen to others.
- You mean a lot to me.
Teach children and adolescents they have more to offer than a pretty face or certain body type. If they’re interested in fashion, makeup, nutrition, or exercise, be sure the emphasis is on enhancing what’s already wonderful about them, rather than changing themselves to get external validation.
How Body Image Affects Success in Adulthood
If you spend your time hating your body, you’re probably not going to try taking care of it. This can not only further harm your health and lower your self-esteem, but it can affect your relationships and your work life.
But recognizing what a gift your body is can take practice. How can you change your mindset to allow you to love your body and exhibit confidence? Change in your attitude and body won’t happen overnight, but here are some suggestions for getting started.
Start Small
- Take a photo to mark the beginning of your journey
- Dress for the body you already have
- Gradually make adjustments to how you fuel your body
- Join a group for fitness accountability and encouragement
Mark Your Progress
- Focus on non-scale-victories
- Celebrate progress with a non-food-related reward
- Share accomplishments with supportive friends and family
Be Open to Alternatives
- Work on lifestyle changes instead of fad diets
- Consult experts in the fields of nutrition, exercise, and plastic surgery to help you achieve your goals
- Try new forms of working out if the gym isn’t a good fit for you
As you learn to accept your body as it is, you will come to understand you’re worthy of professional and personal success right now- you don’t have to wait until you’re a certain weight, a certain pant size, or can run a certain distance.
Signs You Might Hate Yourself
Negative self-talk can convince you to forgo participating in activities you love or pursuing career advancements you deserve. If you find yourself attributing your failures to how you look, you might have a negative body image that needs to be adjusted.
- You feel guilt when you do something for yourself
- You don’t let yourself feel excited about leisure activities or professional opportunities
- You routinely cancel plans
- You stay in your comfort zone
- You’re pessimistic about everything
- You restrict caloric intake
- You workout to punish yourself for what you’ve eaten
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Remember that what you see in the mirror isn’t an accurate reflection of who you are. Our minds can become accustomed to labeling our bodies in unhealthy ways, regardless of how fit we really are. The concept of “body image” has a lot of layers. There’s the cognitive, the perceptive, the affective, and the behavioral.
- Cognitive: internal thoughts about the body
- Perceptual: how the body is seen (size/shape of body parts)
- Affective: feelings about the body
- Behavioral: actions a person takes to analyze, change, or hide the body
Body Dysmorphic Disorder goes beyond vanity; it’s a condition in which a person is so consumed with their appearance it negatively affects their life on a regular basis. A person living with body dysmorphic disorder believes criticisms about themselves that other people cannot see.
This condition can greatly affect how a person functions day-to-day; a belief that the body is deformed or ugly can make it difficult to leave the house, participate in recreational activities, and interact with others. Unless body dysmorphia is addressed, it can result in a continuous cycle of self-esteem issues related to mental health and perceived body image.
It’s normal to have concerns about one’s appearance and to want to look good. When it becomes an obsession, that’s when it’s time to seek help.
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