Mindfulness: The Keys to Knowing and Loving Yourself
In today's era, many people struggle with being happy with themselves. Social media, television programs, music videos, and magazines portray people with a certain image that is trendy, influencing people in many different ways.
However, because of these influences, many people are plagued by a misleading impression of their body image. Instead of focusing on living a healthier lifestyle, taking the time to get to know more about themselves, what is beneficial for their own physical as well as emotional and mental health, struggling with their own body image, they find themselves taking a more judgemental approach and begin down a horrible path of suffering from eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
The best approach toward living a happy, healthy fulfilling lifestyle is by focusing on your wellbeing instead of what others may say and think is best for you. How you see and love yourself is more important than what others see or feel.
Mindfulness And Its Benefits
Mindfulness is being aware of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and environment, through a more disciplined, nurturing approach. It involves acceptance without negatively judging the self. According to Ryan M. Niemiec Psy.D., "Mindfulness is the self-regulation of attention with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance.”
Practicing mindfulness helps your thoughts stay in tune with the here and now, instead of being trapped by your past or worried about your future. It challenges us to break free from negative thoughts and develop an attitude of gratitude and hope, helping us to be optimistic and focus more on positive ways to address difficult situations that may arise in our lives.
How Mindfulness Helps Improve Body Image
Many of us struggle with the way we see ourselves in the mirror and the way we feel about our bodies when we put on clothes. Developing a personal relationship with yourself and your body helps you mindfully readjust your presence with your body that brings happiness and fulfillment to your life.
Being mindful of yourself and needs is essential for helping you create the image you desire. Instead of reflecting on parts of your body that you dislike with rejection, practicing mindfulness will help you direct love and gratitude toward them, encouraging you in a less bias way to improve the areas you dislike instead. According to Maor Bernshtein'", body image is the collection of perception, feelings, and thoughts regarding one’s own body. Positive body image is not the absence of negativity, but rather an expression of “appreciation for the body as it is, even though there may be aspects that an individual may want to alter.” This implies that there may be different factors that appear to be related to positive, but not negative, body image".
Conclusion
It is impossible to live up to everyone's expectations or views of how you should look, what you should wear, or how you should feel about yourself. It is not selfish to love who you are, as you are, and improve the areas you believe needs improving, or even staying the same. What matters is that you let go of unrealistic views of yourself, love yourself, and develop a daily healthy routine that is best for you. According to Emily Roberts MA, LPC,"Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself."
By developing a daily exercise program, balancing your nutritional intake, and being proud of your accomplishments small and great, taking one step and one day at a time, helps improve the way you view and feel about yourself. When we practice mindfulness and self-care, it rewards us with various health benefits.
