How to Be Body Positive in the Modern Age

The old saying is true: we’re our own worst critics. It’s easy to spiral into negative, critical thoughts about the way we look. Practice kindness and compassion in your self-talk by being as positive as possible. It may be difficult at first, so when you have a harsh thought about yourself, it might be helpful to ask yourself, “would I talk to my best friend the way I talk to myself?”. If the answer is no, go a little easier on yourself and maybe pay yourself a compliment.

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In the age of social media, it’s super easy to look at other people and criticize their bodies, faces, and even fashion choices. It might seem harmless, but body shaming contributes to a culture where it’s acceptable to criticize women’s bodies, and also fuels negative self-talk in our minds. Make it a habit to avoid body shaming others.

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Social media can also be a powerful tool or a significant challenge to body positivity. Filters can be fun, but seeing airbrushed, tuned, filtered perfection can really warp our sense of reality. Try posting a selfie or two without any filters or editing to embrace your skin tone, texture and imperfections!

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Makeup is a fun way to express your creativity and style, but if you start to feel like you can’t leave the house without filling in your brows or putting on mascara, it might be time to take a break from the makeup as a reminder that you don’t need it to be beautiful. Try having a no-makeup day, and maybe take a trip to the grocery store while you’re at it.

Taking care of the skin you’re in is a really easy way to practice body positivity. Break out your favourite masks and serums, but don’t forget body scrubs and body butters as well!

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Acne positivity is an offshoot of body positivity, and is all about embracing skin imperfection. As much as blemishes can affect our confidence, all skin is beautiful and you are worth so much more than how you look. So rock that skin with confidence, imperfection and all!

The tabloids can be pretty harsh to celebs as they age, whether they choose to age naturally or have some work done as they go along. As a result, you might panic when you see that first wrinkle start to form. Be body positive about your wrinkles: think of them as expression lines, how many times you’ve laughed or frowned or smiled.

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As bodies change and grow, from puberty to pregnancy and beyond, stretch marks and cellulite can start to appear, and many people feel self-conscious about it. However, virtually all people have stretch marks and cellulite! So rock that bikini and know that you're in good company.

Do you have a section of your closet filled with clothes that don’t fit in the hopes that one day you’ll be a different size? Instead of buying clothes that are too small, get clothes that fit the body you have right now. Honour your body with clothes that make you look and feel good.

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If looking at Instagram models makes you feel bad about your body, fill your feed with body positive accounts instead. Every day people take to social media to spread the body love — fat, rolls, cellulite, and all. Follow uplifting body positive accounts to inspire your own journey to self-love.

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Comparison really is the thief of body positive joy. Comparing your body to your best friend, mom, or favourite celeb is a surefire way to feel down about yourself. Quit comparing yourself to others and focus on features you love about yourself while trying to accept the features you’re less confident about.

Whether it’s a journal or sticky notes posted around your room, write down your body positive goals. Write something nice about yourself — how amazing your cheekbones are, how cute your nose is, or how wonderfully compassionate you are — and refer to it often. Sometimes we need an external reminder form ourselves.

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We’re all taught to be modest, but sometimes modesty can go too far. If your natural reaction to a compliment is to criticize yourself, try to break the habit with a simple “thank you!”. It can be hard, but learning to accept compliments can help you change the way you see and think about yourself.

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Whether it’s a crop top, short shorts, or a bikini, we all have styles that we admire on other people but are apprehensive to wear ourselves. Something as simple as wearing the clothes you’ve always wanted to can help you embrace parts of your body that you’re less confident in.

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Just like fashion, makeup is an amazing way to express yourself and play up the features you love. If you’ve always admired but been uncertain of a bold lip or smokey eye, try these trends out. It’s just makeup, after all, and anyone can wear anything they want!

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