Body Positivity and Social Media
Social Media can be both a blessing and a curse. In one moment, it connects us to anyone all over the world. We are more connected than ever. On the other hand, opening up in public on social media leaves us vulnerable to attack from people we might not even know.
Have you ever found yourself questioning your life? Do you compare yourself to pictures that you see others post? The number of likes and shares can feel like society’s judgment on how we present ourselves. What makes one person popular and another obscure? You might find yourself wondering how other people’s lives look so amazing when you feel stuck.
Social media can distort our perception of ourselves and our experiences IRL. While we might be conscious of this to varying degrees, it can be challenging to shut out those thoughts which warn us that we are missing out because of some perceived deficit in comparison to others. You might feel that who you are does not fit the bodies you see on social media, or on tv, or in the movies. You might know some of these are unrealistic, but they can really impact your own positive self-view.
So what can you do?
The body positivity movement focuses on normalizing the idea human bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and shades. The movement asks us to challenge societal views while accepting all bodies. It challenges us to confront unrealistic body standards and bolster self-confidence and self-acceptance.
All daunting prospects but there are some easy places to start:
Love your body for what it does well, rather than what it looks like. Instead of focusing on appearance, notice what your body does well. What is something your body allows you to do that brings you joy? When do you feel at home in your body?
Eat healthily and exercise because it feels good. Find what activities work for you and are fun. Find foods that taste good to you and which energize you. Too often the focus of diet and exercise is on achieving a certain clothing size or a goal weight. You might feel pressured to stick to your routine and struggle with failure when your expectations are not being met. Just switching focus to what feels good can have a dramatic effect on self-confidence and image.
Wear clothes that you love. You might be holding off on wearing something or purchasing clothes because you feel it “looks good on other people but not me” or because it’s “for a different body type.” It can be hard to interrupt these ideas, but when you wear clothes you love that flatter how you look now, you’ll feel more confident and positive. Your positivity will bring your look to a whole new level.
Follow body positive accounts on social media. Research shows that when you are exposed to body positive posts, your own appreciation of your body increases, and can have a positive effect on symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.
The good news is that you don’t have to go through this alone. Disrupting messages of self-worth tied to social media and social expectations is not easy. We are here to help guide you on this journey to living your authentic life.
Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our client concierge to learn more about Repose’s online therapy.
Not sure if telehealth is the right fit for you? Curious how movement can be incorporated in therapy? Check out some of our other blogs:
What are the benefits of online therapy? | The Language of Your Body: Using Movement/Dance Therapy | Internal Family Systems: Understanding Your Inner World
Find out more about Body Positivity here.