POSITIVE

NOTIONS OF
BODY

BY
KAVIYASRI S.
I B.Ed
What is Body Image?

• Body image is how you see yourself

physically, both when you think about
yourself, and when you look in a mirror.
Body image is affected by:
• How you feel about your body,
including height, weight and shape;
• Your beliefs about your appearance,
which may include views about the
‘right’ appearance; and
• How your physical body feels to you
as you move.
Body image is also affected by
stereotypes and beliefs,
including those of the people
around you as well as your
own.
People with positive body
image understand that
personal appearance has very
little to do with ability or
character. They are confident
and comfortable with
themselves, and do not waste
time worrying about their
body.
Developing a Positive Body
Image

1. GOOD SELF-ESTEEM

• Body image is closely linked to self-esteem, which

is how you feel about your abilities, and can be
best thought of as your ‘inner voice’.
• Those with low self-esteem may also have a more
negative image of their bodies, because they have a
generally low opinion of themselves and their abilities.
Both are also linked to self-confidence.

• Improving your self-esteem requires building up your

view of yourself. It means taking control of your
inner dialogue, and ensuring that it becomes more
positive. Instead of focusing on what might go wrong,
it is important to focus on what is already good.
2. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

• The second element, a positive attitude, is

closely linked to self-esteem.

3. EMOTIONAL AWARENESS AND SELF-CONTROL,

SOMETIMES CALLED EMOTIONAL STABILITY.
Finally, to manage your views about your body, you
need to be aware and in control of your emotions.
THREE VERY PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP YOU TO
AVOID DEVELOPING NEGATIVE VIEWS OF YOUR
BODY,

1. Try to avoid perfectionism.

Nobody is perfect, and trying to be
perfect in any sphere is only going to
lead to problems in the long term. Good
enough actually is good enough.
2. DON'T MAKE COMPARISONS.

• It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing your

life or your body with others, and thinking that
yours is inferior in some way.
• Social media makes this especially likely,
because most people are presenting carefully-
curated images of their lives, designed to look
better than the reality. Avoid comparisons, and
try to simply celebrate others’ successes as
well as your own.
3. AVOID THE TEMPTATION
TO CRITICISE OR JUDGE.
• It is always easy to criticise.
Unfortunately, being highly critical is a bit
of a habit, and once you start to use this
approach with others, it tends to rebound
on you.
APPRECIATE
STEPS TO POSITIVE BODY
IMAGE

• Appreciate all that your body can do.

• Keep a top-ten list of things you like
about yourself
• Remind yourself that “true beauty” is
not simply skin-deep.
• Look at yourself as a whole person.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
STEPS TO POSITIVE BODY
IMAGE
• Shut down those voices in your head that tell you your body
is not “right” or that you are a “bad” person.

• Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you feel
good about your body. Work with your body, not against it.

• Become a critical viewer of social and media messages.

• Do something nice for yourself

• Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying
about food, calories, and your weight to do something to
help others.
 POOR OR NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE.

• Starting point for serious mental illnesses,

including eating disorders such as anorexia
• anxiety and depression
Having a positive body image
does not mean that you think
everything about your body is
perfect.

Nobody is perfect, not even

supermodels.
Positive body image means
accepting your body for what
it is, celebrating your natural
shape and size, and how your
body performs.
• Building and maintaining a positive
body image is therefore important.
• Learning to accept yourself and your
body—or even just to give yourself a
break every now and then—is one of the
most important personal skills for the
mind.