Body Confidence and Loving The Skin You’re In: A Valentines Day Message

Valentine’s day is often seen as a celebration of romance and love, and love can come in many different forms – including self-love. However, this particular holiday can bring up feelings of insecurity especially when it comes to body confidence. Our social media feeds can end up filled with pictures of what we should look like as a couple, or how our body should look according to social standards of beauty. With all of these filtered and air-brushed pictures filling our feeds, it’s no wonder that we can get caught up in self-comparison and self-criticism. This Valentine’s Day can be your opportunity to fall in love with yourself, practice self-acceptance, appreciate and celebrate your body, no matter what your current relationship status is.

The Pressure to be Perfect

The pressure to look a certain way isn’t just an issue for Valentine’s Day, it’s one which exists generally in society all times of the year. Nonetheless, Valentine’s Day can tend to make people feel like they need to look “perfect”, either for their partner or to fit in with beauty ideals when looking for a special someone. This pressure to feel perfect can eclipse the real meaning of love: appreciation and acceptance.

Your body deserves and is worthy of love, just the way it is. It is what allows you to live, to experience all of the wonderful things which happen. Your body deserves kindness and compliments, not criticism and scolding. Instead of focusing on the points you see as your flaws, how about shifting your mindset to one of gratitude? Remember all of the things your body allows you to do every day – walking, sitting and watching your favourite show, enjoying the taste of chocolate, hugging a loved one, or just waking up this morning.

Ideas to Bolster your Body Confidence

If this Valentine’s Day is bringing up self-doubt and negativity, use it as an opportunity to build your body confidence with some self-love practices:

1. Practice Positive Self-Talk – Replace negative criticisms with positive affirmations. Rather than saying “I hate how my body looks” try, “I appreciate everything my body allows me to experience” Speak to yourself with kindness, like you would do to a friend.

   
   

2. Wear What Makes You Feel Great – Ignore the fashion rules for a moment. Put on something that you love, that makes you feel confident and comfortable, whether that’s your favourite dress or a cosy jumper. Feel good being you!

   
   

3. Pull the Plug on social media – If scrolling through your feed leave you feeling bad about yourself, step away for a break. Take some time later on to make sure that your feed is tailored for you. Follow people that you love and can see yourself reflected in. Include some body-positive influencers and some uplifting accounts to help inspire you.

   
   

4. Bring on the Bliss – Do the things that make you feel good in your body, whether that’s singing, knitting, or taking a long bubble bath. Enjoying activities without judgment helps reconnect with yourself.

   
   

5. Write Yourself a Love Letter – Write down all of the things you love and appreciate about yourself. Remind yourself that you have so much worth beyond just physical appearances!

   
   

Celebrate love

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be focussed around a romantic partner—it can be about celebrating love in all areas of your life. Spend the day with friends or pamper yourself. Love is more than relationship status; it’s about how we treat ourselves and others.

This Valentine’s Day, instead of judging yourself in the mirror, remember to celebrate who you are. Appreciate and embrace the body that carries you through life, practice self-compassion, and remember that you deserve love exactly the way you are.

Check out my book Reflections of Imperfections: Poems of Self-love and Compassion. A short book of poems around self-esteem and body confidence. Available on Amazon now https://amzn.eu/d/8GAD0cR

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