Table of contents:
- The characteristics of the owner of a negative body image
- The characteristics of a positive body image owner
- How do I change a negative body image to a positive one?
- 1. Improve self-confidence
- 2. Cultivate a positive attitude
- 3. Focus on the part you like
- 4. Be strong in your emotions when you face other people
According to nationaleatingdisorders.org, body image is how a person sees himself when he is in the mirror or when he imagines himself in his mind. Body image includes what he believes about his appearance (including assumptions and general views), how he feels about his own body (such as height, shape, and weight), and how he feels and controls his body when moving.
Body image in medicine and psychology is aimed at people who have beliefs, emotional attitudes, and perceptions of their own bodies. This term is commonly used when discussing various kinds of disorders and diseases such as body dysmorphic disorder (a mental disorder that is fixated on a physical disability that doesn't actually exist), disorders of honesty of body identity, eating disorders, and somatoparaphrenia (the sufferer denies having all his limbs).
Everyone has a body image towards their physical appearance. But is your body image positive or negative?
The characteristics of the owner of a negative body image
People who have a negative body image feel that their appearance does not match what society, family, friends and people expect. They have a feeling of inferiority when comparing themselves with others.
Usually, people who have a negative body image have unrealistic thoughts. When they look at themselves in the mirror, they will see that their body parts are ugly or even deformed. In fact, in fact the limbs are fine.
Psychologists say that it is normal to have negative thoughts about the body to some degree. However, if you always see yourself as negative, and your perception of it persists, it may be a sign of another psychiatric problem such as dysmorphic disorder, somatoparaphrenia, etc.
Another example of a negative body image is people who think they are fat even though they are actually slim. Researchers from the University of Illinois found that if thin and thin women believed they were still fat, they were more likely to lose weight in an unsafe way than those who assessed their weight accurately. Researchers from Northwestern University also reported that women who were obsessed with body fat were more likely to have it body image negative.
The characteristics of a positive body image owner
If you have a positive body image, you will feel good when you look at your body in the mirror. You may find that your appearance still doesn't live up to the standards presented in the media, society, and family, but you still feel satisfied with what your body has.
You also don't have the desire to be thinner, taller, or change your physique in order to get a positive image. Because, what a positive body image means is that you feel comfortable with the body you have right now, despite all its shortcomings.
Being physically fit is the effect of your positive outlook on your body. If you know that you can go up and down stairs, lift heavy objects, garden, and feel yourself agile, then you are much more likely to have body positive image. A study at the University of Florida found that simple physical exercise can make a person feel better.
A positive body image is seen as the reality of the individual seeing himself as he is. They accept parts of their bodies that are not ideal, but are still happy with their bodies. Psychologists say that feelings in oneself don't have to be related to how we see our bodies. People who notice this tend to feel better about their appearance.
A study conducted at the University of Arizona found that women who had high family support and had less pressure to look thinner and beautiful had a more positive body image.
How do I change a negative body image to a positive one?
Creating a positive body image starts with building a good relationship with yourself. This requires self-confidence, a positive attitude, and emotional stability.
1. Improve self-confidence
When you have a good view of your personality and find that other people feel good about you, you can feel confident. So if you still judge your personality negatively, you may be overly concerned about how other people see us.
Remind yourself that true beauty is not visible on the outside. When you feel good about who you are and who you are, you will carry yourself with confidence and make you think that being beautiful doesn't really have to do with being like a supermodel, it has to do with heart and mind. Then, wear your favorite clothes, so you will get better confidence.
2. Cultivate a positive attitude
A positive attitude will emerge when you accept all of your strengths and weaknesses. You should know that negative attitudes tend to make you behave like a perfectionist, like to compare, and very critical or judgmental of both yourself and others. Such attitudes are characteristic of anorexics and people with mental disorders of body image.
- Perfectionists can create negative feelings about your body and can thwart your desire to be better.
- Enjoying comparing yourself and others can increase negative self-judgment.
- Being highly critical or judgmental of others can increase the likelihood that you will do this to yourself.
3. Focus on the part you like
You have to appreciate what your body can do such as running, dancing, breathing, laughing, and so on. Look at your body as a whole, don't focus on just one limb, and write it down top-ten list that you like about yourself.
4. Be strong in your emotions when you face other people
Emotional stability will arise when you are able to maintain a connection between feelings, thoughts, and desires when you share experiences with others. To have a positive body image, you must be able to maintain your feelings in the face of negative words from others.
The trick is, start surrounding yourself with positive people. This will make it easier for you to feel good about yourself. They will give you support to love yourself.