Learning to love your body is not an impossible task. All you need are the right tool. In this age taut, toned limbs seem to command more respect than an advanced degree, it`s not small wonder that it has become extremely hard for women to feel good about their bodies. The message we receive as women is that who are is based on how you look. If you don`t feel good about your body, then you`re not going to feel good about yourself.
Here`s the step-by-step strategy in body image.
1. Determine a realistic weight and shape – for you. Instead of striving for physical “perfection,” developing a positive body image demands turning your focus -and your time- to health. This requires taking into account your generic predis-positions, age and amount of time you have to devote to your realistic weight and shape.
Action: Visualize your healthy ideal and in a journal, describe it and write down actions you can take to actualize it. These might include losing 15 pounds, exercising more, learning to rock climb, and eating more vegetables. Then document “facts” about your body -your medical history, height, bone structure- as well as any attributes you recognize, such as clear skin or good biceps.
Next compare your ideal body with your actual body. Note obvious inconsistencies: Perhaps your “ideal” is 110 pounds, but you`re 5 feet 8 inches, with a large bone structure. Obviously, this ideal is unlikely -and unhealthy- for your frame. As you go through both lists of traits, adjust your ideal accordingly.
2. Make a conscious decision to change. You must know where you are starting before you can determine where you are going. Draw two circles, divided pie-style. In the first circle, indicate the percentage of time each week that they devote to taking care of their bodies, not only through physical activies but also with spiritual ones such as meditation, walking or writing poetry that help you stay connected to your world and to you feeling. The second circle is where they ask them to reconfigure that time to meet the goals they are setting.
Action: Draw two circles (as described previously) in your journal. Then focus on the second circle -your goal circle- and be specific: Set aside spesific blocks of time for exercise as well as for the rest and renewal activities you envision in step 1. As you compare the two circles, note where you can make the necessary time adjustments to fit in these essential self-care activities.