Out Of This World Flavor™
How to Foster Body Positivity In Your Daily Routine
If you struggle with loving your body, you are not alone. Many people have experienced stress due to their body-type not fitting into the narrow construct of present-day beauty standards. Here at AstroFlav, we know how difficult this struggle can be, so we want to equip our community with the best methods of fostering body positivity in our daily routines. Keep reading to learn what actions you can take to embrace body positivity on your fitness journey.
Practice positive affirmation
One of the most effective ways to practice body positivity is through verbal affirmation.
Say what you love about yourself out loud by giving yourself daily verbal encouragement. This can take many forms: say something positive to yourself in the mirror or read written notes of affirmation to yourself throughout the day.
You might feel silly doing this at first, but in order to teach your brain that you are valuable, you have to speak your thoughts out loud. This is a proven verbal learning tactic.
Remember that weight ≠ value
Skinny does not always equal healthy.
While this assumption is incorrect, it is nevertheless thoroughly ingrained in American media.
Avoid diet culture and put away the scale—your weight is not equal to your value as a person!
Instead, show appreciation to your body by nourishing it and exercising in ways you actually enjoy.
Recognize value in others
One way to start recognizing value in yourself is to recognize it in others.
Give compliments to your friends, family and strangers.
When you show kindness to others, you are more likely to show kindness to yourself.
Surround yourself with support and positive influence
Cut out toxicity from your life and surround yourself with messages of body positivity.
Are you following influencers who boast about diet culture? Unfollow. Your friend wants you to go on the latest diet trend with her to lose 15 pounds? No thanks Karen!
Instead, surround yourself with positive media and people who uplift you for who you are. You can do this by actively looking for social media accounts, books, brands and people who showcase body positivity in all that they do.
Our thoughts reflect the media and messages that we absorb in daily life, so it is very important to filter out harmful narratives and replace them with positivity.
Highlight what you love
Instead of spending time wishing you looked one way, focus on what you love about yourself.
Identify the tangible and intangible features you love most about yourself. When negative thoughts pop into your head, revert to these features to remember your value.
These features don’t have to be chosen based on beauty, you can also choose them to highlight their amazing ability. For example, if you catch yourself thinking “I wish my legs were longer”, replace that thought with “I love my legs for their ability to take me wherever I wish to go.”
Find time for self care
Set aside time to destress and spend time with yourself.
Find an activity to help you connect with yourself—this could be taking a bath, painting, cooking, exercising, taking a walk, reading...whatever lets you escape from the world and be with your thoughts.
Self-care can also take the form of prioritizing yourself. For example, if you are feeling burned out and need rest, don't feel guilty for saying "no" to making plans to prioritize your wellbeing.
Increase awareness of negative thoughts
As social media becomes increasingly more central to our lives, we tend to compare ourselves to others online. This practice is very damaging to our individual perceptions of ourselves.
The next time you feel bad that you don’t look like someone you see on social media, remember that they have the power in this situation. They have filters and editing tools at their disposal and are presenting themselves in the best light possible.
Social media does not equal real life. We are all human and we all have “flaws” that make us unique and beautiful. Celebrate your “flaws” because they are what make you, you.
Be aware of when negative, self-damaging thoughts come into your head. Identify the thought and combat it with a positive affirmation.
Realize that you are more than your appearance
Finally, let yourself come to the realization that you are so much more than your physical appearance.
Instead of focusing on your body 24/7, spend your energy doing something you love.
Focus on a passion or hobby, reward yourself with self care or spend time with those you love.
How do you foster body positivity in your daily routine?
Share your story with jenniferjames@astroflav.com to be featured in our Facebook community.
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Statements contained herein have not been evaluated
by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is
not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent
any disease.