Hey Besties! Body image is one of those things that we all seem to struggle with at some point in our lives. Have you ever wished that you could change something about your body?
Have you ever taken matters into your own hands and actually changed your body? Most people feel unhappy with the way that they look, but your outward appearance will never mask your inward dissatisfaction.
![body image](https://blissful-faith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/body-image-683x1024.png)
What Is Body Image
Body image is a combination of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions that you have about your body.
The way you feel about your body can stem from both positive and negative experiences. It is usually influenced by the things you can see.
For example, if all you see on the media are big booties and chiseled abs; then you may naturally start to desire that. Or if most members of your family have big noses, you may lean towards wanting a different nose.
Even if all of your peers in the industry have bbls, you may think that in order to stay relevant that you need one too.
It all comes down to what you are allowing to influence you.
My question is: If you didn’t know something was “wrong”, how would you know to make it “right”?
How Does Social Media Affect Body Image
For years, the images in the media have told people what they should and shouldn’t look like. Do you realize that whatever is trending at the moment gets promoted the most?
One minute, slim bodies are hot and the next thicker bodies are where its at. Then next week muscular bodies with specific haircuts are in.
How long will you allow what is trending to dictate your preference in others and in yourself?
Let’s be honest. There is constant pressure to present the perfect picture on and off the internet.
It gets so horrifying to the point that people who don’t live with you have a permanent residence in your mind.
“What will they think about my outfit”? “Will they notice I gained 10lbs”? “I’m going to my high school reunion and show off how good I look”.
When does it stop Besties? You can’t go on claiming that it’s for you when everything about your body is centered around “them”.
I Want To See You Be Free
God said that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. This means that everything within you, around you, and outside of you understands that God himself calls you divine.
It’s not by coincidence that you look the way you look. God took his time creating every dimple and dent in your thighs.
He purposely designed you with those long legs, not for basketball, but for a purpose that will outlast a two and a half hour game.
Everything you don’t love about yourself, God made and declared it beautiful.
If the Creator of everything you see and don’t see is satisfied with his creation, who aren’t you?
How much longer will you allow those who were created to negate the body that you were given?
Bestie stop allowing comparison to rob you of the joy of having a healthy body image.
Overcoming Body Image Issues
Every person is different. These practical tips may or may not work for you, but I encourage you to try them out!
Only a renewed mind from the Holy Spirit can guarantee complete freedom from body image issues.
Before trying any of these, please invite Jesus into your new journey of accepting and loving your body.
1. Understand Who You Are
You are not just your body. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 you are spirit, soul, and body. Could it be that it’s listed in the order that you should prioritize?
First take care of your spirit, then your soul, and then your body. Typically the body is first because its the thing we can see and the only version of ourselves that we know.
2. Begin To Pray About The Purpose Of Your Body
We are just born with this thing we call “body”. But have you ever questioned why you have it? What is the actual purpose of a body and why did God give one specifically to you?
3. Look In The Mirror
Stand in the mirror and look into your eyes.
Begin to point out something that you love about your body.
It doesn’t matter if you can only point out a single mole. There is something that you like about your body.
4. Begin To Do Some Soul-Searching
Ask yourself what made you not like your body.
If I can be honest, what made me not like my body is people’s comments.
It didn’t matter if I was bigger or smaller, I didn’t like that people formed their opinions about my shape before I could understand what was happening with my own body.
Whether the comments were positive or negative, I will didn’t like them.
If I could go back to the little girl with the baby fat, the preteen going through puberty, or the young woman who was pushing 250; I would ask her why people’s comments weighed so heavy in her life.
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5. Take Responsibility
Whether you’ve abused your body with food or judgment; you still abused your body. You now know better so it is time to do better.
You have to take responsibility for the part you played however. Even if you’ve overworked your body or neglected to feed yourself, take responsibility and forgive yourself.
Want to learn how to forgive yourself? Click here
6. Practice Being Nicer To Yourself And Accepting Your Body
If you were to write all the negative things you thought about your body as if you were sending it to someone else, do you think they would like the letter?
It’s not supposed to be normal to be your biggest critic. This is not the way we will live from here on out Besties.
From now on, you will be your own biggest cheerleader instead. You will love yourself.
Check out this episode of the Let’s Geaux Bestie podcast to learn what it means to love yourself.
7. Stop Letting The Media And Your Family Define Your Beauty Standard
This one speaks for itself. Creation cannot define beauty. Only the Creator can.
What Does God See When He Looks At Me
Only the Creator can define his creation. God says so many wonderful things about you. He doesn’t define you by your weight, height, clothing size, or skin color.
He defines you first as his image. Here are twelve bible verses about how God sees you pertaining to body image.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body”.
Psalm 139:14
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well”.
2 Corinthians 4:16
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”.
Matthew 23:27
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness”.
Isaiah 43:7
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Romans 12:1
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him”.
Philippians 3:21
“He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control”.
Colossians 3:2
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth”.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again”.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
“It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever”.
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.
Bestie, even though you are spirit, a healthy body image is still important. God wants you to love your body and have a healthy relationship with your full self. He loves you and will forever be on this self love journey with you.
Remember you are destined to win because He got up!
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