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Boost Your Body Image
Five ways to take care of—and appreciate—the real you
By Courtney Macavinta
Why do so many of us hate on our bodies? Is it all the toxic media we digest or a mean comment someone made to us in 3rd grade (or just last week)? So many girls are at odds with their bodies and want to change something—or everything—about the way they look.
Still, your body is where you live—your home sweet home. Your body is here to support you being the real you and fulfilling your dreams. That's why respecting yourself means respecting your body.
Try these body image boosters to help you appreciate your body and encourage healthy choices that work for you:
Step #1: Be wise to the unREALities
Sometimes your life can become ruled by unrealistic images and ideals; let's call these "unREALities." These outside forces include pressure to compete with other girls. Next there are magazines, TV shows, or Web sites that promote investing a lot of time in packaging your appearance. Finally, perfection. Narrow ideals of beauty, success and power can make you feel that you aren't good enough the way you are. These forces shape your body image—often for the worse.
Action item: Make a list of any unREALities affecting you (divide them by pressure, perfection, and packaging). Think about making changes—like limiting your media consumption or not to judging yourself against others.
Step #2: Pursue your passions, not perfection
Tired of criticizing your body? Take your body out on some passionate dates: with you. One secret to having a booming body image is to focus your energies on doing activities, hobbies, and work that you love. When you pursue your passions, confidence and courage grows. You not only feel better, but you focus less on perfecting your outside packaging.
Action item: Break out your calendar and pencil in time for your passions each week. Make a note of how your body helps you pursue what you really love.
Step #3: Set boundaries
Who touches your body, where your body goes and how much nutrition you give it is up to you. Think about your body boundaries. Are you allowing yourself to get the food, water, rest, exercise, laughter, and hugs you need? Or are you buckling under pressures and neglecting your health or taking unhealthy risks? Consider this: You have a mission in life and lots of fabulous gifts—even if you don't know what they all are yet. So if you burn out or don't have any energy, the world is going to miss out on all you have to offer. And it's a lot!
Action item: Make a list of three boundaries you're going to set to help you take better care of your body.
Step #4: Change the conversation
Tired of hearing friends bash their bodies? Then, change the conversation. For starters, don't put down other girls. And ask your friends what's really going on with them when they start putting down their looks. Talk about your passions, feelings and desire to change the world. After a few hours of talking with your friends about your real girl-power, you'll feel better about yourselves and your bodies. Think about ways to change how you talk about your body.
Action item: Make yourself an "inner beauty band," a bracelet with a message like: "You're a great friend and everyone loves you!" Or hang an inspiring message over your bathroom mirror, such as: "This is what a future president looks like."
Step #5: Be a REAL role model
Younger girls are already looking up to you, so take your job as a REAL role model seriously. Show younger girls—and friends—how you take care of you, pursue your dreams, and support other girls. Being a REAL role model means that you stay true to yourself, listen to your gut, and don't do things that go against your body boundaries. It also means that people look up to you for who you are, not how you look.
Action item: This week, read about, talk about, and celebrate women and girls who do good, not just those who look good. And count yourself among them.
Courtney Macavinta is co-author of RESPECT: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed.
uniquely ME! THE GIRL SCOUT/DOVE SELF-ESTEEM PROGRAM was established in the fall of 2001 to boost self-esteem among girls ages 8 to 17. The uniquely ME! resources are available for all girls. For more information, visit the girlscouts.org uniquely ME! Web page.
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