Do you feel attractive? Are you really happy with the way you look? Can you say for sure that you love yourself? Most of us will answer “no” to each of these questions. “Too fat, I have to work out.” “Shame on me, I look terrible.” “I can’t look at my body in the mirror, it’s gross.” We become our harshest critics and tell ourselves things we would never say to our best friend.
Learning how to accept and love your own body – how do you do it? It’s a long and difficult journey, so you’ll need all the support you can get, whether it’s literature on the subject, friends and family, or a loved one. We also want to help you in this endeavor, so today, we’ve gathered some essential tips to help you move forward on the path to loving yourself.
The Importance of Self-Esteem and Body Acceptance
Source: winnetworkdetroit.org
Let’s start from the basics. Who has conveyed to you that you are not attractive in the first place? Are these really your thoughts, or are they coming from someone else? Maybe your ex was criticizing you. Or maybe you were taught at home that you should wear a certain size. Or maybe you’ve fallen victim to advertising, which presents us with unattainable ideals. It’s important to recognize where your insecurities are coming from if you want to eliminate the negative impact on your mindset and, therefore, your self-esteem.
If your bad feelings come from another person, don’t blindly adopt them. You’re happy with curves, but your partner wants you to lose weight? Don’t change your body; change your partner. Think about it: how will you be a happy person and build a healthy relationship if you’re always trying to be the way other people want you to be? This way, you don’t lose kilos, but yourself. Healthy self-esteem allows you to invite only those people into your life that truly love and appreciate you for who you are.
Misconceptions about Plus-Size People and Dating
Many plus-sized people feel that the road to the world of romance is closed to them. It may well be that you find it difficult to find a partner who truly appreciates, respects, and loves you for who you are. But it’s not that it’s impossible. In fact, thousands of plus-size singles around the world are achieving it every day. But to find the right person, you have to use the right search tools.
Why don’t you reconsider your ways of finding love and try your hand at online dating? There are many online dating sites for plus-size people; at 10bbwdatingsites.com, you can read reviews of the most popular ones. These platforms are known for bringing together like-minded people worldwide looking for love and romance with someone who can understand them and teach them how to love themselves.
You will be extremely surprised to meet singles of all sizes on these sites. That’s because people here understand that no matter what size clothes you wear, you are, first and foremost, an individual. It is why chubby people appreciate plus-size online matchmaking. Here they get a chance to find like-minded people, ask for advice, get a boost of confidence, and meet someone special who will love them and teach them how to appreciate their bodies.
It can be a great step toward improving your self-esteem and perception of your body, so consider this option as a remedy for your inner wounds.
How Low Self-Esteem Can Affect Mental Health
Source: psycom.net
Low self-esteem can manifest itself in many ways. It can be severe shyness, a strong fear of failure, or unfounded feelings of shame or guilt. It’s also often associated with fear, hurt, anger, loneliness, or inner emptiness. But regardless of what kind of emotions you experience, in most cases, low self-esteem leads to severe depression.
Because of having little confidence, people with low self-esteem avoid many social situations, leading to less in life or failing to achieve important personal goals. Difficulties in social relationships often arise, and those affected often have problems regulating closeness or distance according to their needs.
In romantic relationships, a person with low self-esteem can be clingy, adapt strongly, or subordinate to their partner. They also feel rejected easily and tend to withdraw when faced with difficulties. All of this has a rather unfavorable effect on the partnership. People with low self-esteem are also more likely to have conflicts and separations. They may also avoid relationships altogether, fearing disappointment or abandonment by their partner.
That’s why learning to love and accept yourself is so important. You can’t build healthy relationships and succeed in life if you don’t love and value yourself. Shyness and doubt often stop us from taking a step toward a better life, but if you are willing and ready to fix it, now is the time.
Ways to Improve Your Self-Esteem and Self-Love
To improve your self-esteem, you must not only rely on those around you but also work on your own. Thus, let’s look at a few key ways to help you in this endeavor.
1. Surrounding Yourself with Positive Influences
Source: refinedprose.com
The excessive use of Facebook and Instagram has been linked in numerous studies to the mania of comparison and body dissatisfaction. The images of seemingly “perfect” women and men influence us, whether we like it or not.
So, the best way to change your mindset is to change the content you consume by surrounding yourself with positive influencers. Expert Caitlin Cantor suggests turning the tables. “Follow Instagram feeds, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts that embody body positivity.” Only let content that conveys body love (in all forms) get to you.
2. Learning to Love Yourself
Understand one simple thing: the moment you change your body perception, you’ll realize how beautiful you are. And your body doesn’t even have to change for this. It’s not your body that’s bad; it’s your perception of it.
Instead of dwelling on everything you don’t like in your appearance, start focusing on every little thing you find attractive. Train yourself to see the best in your body. Over time, your body perception will change, and you will perceive yourself much more positively.
3. Challenging Negative Self-Talk
Source: transformationstreatment.center
“My body is just ugly!” Have you ever thought that? We all have those days when we just can’t find anything good about ourselves. The thighs are too fat, the belly hasn’t been thin enough for years, and the butt? We don’t even need to talk about that.
But in reality, what we hate about ourselves is often not even noticed by those around us. So why listen to the inner critic, who will always find something to pick on? Negative self-talk tends to destroy you from the inside. Don’t let this voice humiliate you. Instead, learn to find a positive response to every negative thought whenever you start criticizing yourself.
4. Finding Clothing That Fits and Flatters Your Body Type
To help yourself realize your attractiveness, you also need to work on your wardrobe. For example, take a look into your closet and choose things that make you feel attractive. Old, torn, or worn-out items throw away; there’s no need to hold on to them.
Make it a habit, even at home, to wear clothes in which you feel comfortable and neat. After all, if you’ve decided to change your life and start loving yourself, why don’t you arrange shopping? Buy a few sets of clothes to wear at home and for going out that you feel 100% hot in. Learn to see beauty in yourself when looking in the mirror.
Self-love is something you have to learn long and hard. But today, you have already taken the first step toward a happy life as a person who cherishes themselves, so don’t give up! Use the tips we presented today and allow yourself to become complete.
