Body Image: Positive Affirmations for Accepting and Loving Your Body
I hear a lot of people tell me that positive affirmations don’t work. They say that they “don’t believe” the affirmations they’re repeating. They say that they “feel silly” while repeating them. Most people say they really haven’t used positive affirmations consistently. Well my friends, positive affirmations can work! Really! I have used positive affirmations successfully myself!
Have you heard people say, “Mind over matter”? The things we tell ourselves can be very powerful. A well-trained mind can overcome pain, fear, and self-doubt. A well-trained mind can also become negative and convince our bodies of physical sensations or conditions that aren’t actually present. We can pick up many negative messages in our society that train our minds to believe things that aren’t true. That’s why it’s so important to send positive messages to ourselves. I dare you to start repeating positive affirmations to yourself! What is there to lose?
30 Positive Affirmations for a Better Body Image
Here are several affirmations to help you get started on the road to accepting and loving your body. You can mix, match, and make these your own!
- My body is a gift (from God, from nature, etc.)
- My body is an instrument, not an ornament.
- I love my (name your favorite body part). Trust me, you have something you like about your body! Eyes? Toes? Hair? Fingernails?
- The number on the scale does not determine my self-worth.
- Likewise, the size of my jeans does not dictate my happiness.
- I can have a good day even when I’m not comfortable in my body.
- I’m thankful to my body for allowing me to enjoy (music, the sunset, children, dancing, etc.)
- I’m thankful to my (legs/heart/other part of your choosing) for (carrying me to the places I want to go/keeping me alive/other function).
- I’m thankful to my body for allowing me to serve others.
- My loved ones will love me no matter what I look like.
- I can be a good example to other women and girls about how to love my body.
- Beauty is a state of mind, not a state of the body.
- Good people come in all shapes and sizes.
- I am (list any number of qualities that have nothing to do with your outward appearance–a good listener, charitable, friendly, passionate, helpful, honest, talented, smart, unique, assertive). Remembering who you are on the inside minimizes the focus on your appearance.
- No one is perfect.
- Every body is different, unique, and special.
- If you had 24 hours to live, would you spend that time making your body thinner, bustier, or less wrinkly? NO! No person on their death bed is trying to shave off those last few pounds.
- The images in the media aren’t real.
- There are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels, and only 8 who do. (See my Rubenesque Ruby post).
- I don’t need to compare to others in order to feel good about myself.
- My body needs carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to function properly. So I’ll give my body what it needs while honoring my hunger and fullness.
- I trust my body to use food the way it will work best. Even if that means I need fat on my thighs.
- I can enjoy delicious food without taking it out on my body.
- My “flaws” add character.
- If someone doesn’t like me because of my appearance, I don’t want to be their friend anyway!
- Poise and confidence go further than just a pretty face (or large breasts, or a skinny waist, etc.).
- I will accept my genetics. Thanks Mom and Dad!
- I have more important things to do than fight with my body.
- Smiling makes anyone more attractive.
- Accepting my body is always in fashion.
And for a bonus, I’ll share one of my favorite quotes by Marcia Hutchinson, author of Transforming Body Image: Learning to Love the Body You Have: “If you talked to your friends the way you talk to your body, you’d have no friends left at all.”
What positive affirmations will you put on your list?
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
Amy Harman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a wife and mother. She has worked as a therapist for several years, most recently as a therapist for women and girls with eating disorders. Because of her work with women and the examples of strong women around her, she has developed a desire help women realize their worth. While taking a break from working full-time, she created a blog to empower women by strengthening relationships and improving mental and emotional well-being. Visit her blog Becoming a Better Woman From the Inside Out.
This is a great list, Amy! Loving yourself is the first step to love others. I’m 4’9″, so you can imagine all the teasing I had “growing up”. I love my size and everything about my body. I am inspired by those without arms or legs or mobility in them and how they love life and make a difference…why would I be so ungrateful? We can definitely improve our bodies while loving them in the process. Keep up the amazing work for a positive life!
I’m glad you like the list! Thank you for sharing your experience with learning to love your body no matter what size. I agree with you that loving ourselves helps us give love to others.
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Here is an important one…
I will stop putting junk processed food into my one and only body. I will reject profitmaking junk food industries who don’t care about my health. I will obtain a healthy body (I may end up with a slim lean one but I will do it for myself alone) and and keep it that way by eating the food that loves me back and then I will have the health and energy I was always meant to have.
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