As a photographer and someone who has struggled with anxiety stemming from self-consciousness issues, the topic of body image is close to my heart.
In the age of Photoshop, perfectly curated images on social media and impeccable ads, it is hard not to compare ourselves to others, feel flawed and chase unrealistic version of perfection. However, body image issues can have serious consequences. It truly can harm our mental health and not in such extreme cases it still adds to lack confidence, hyper focusing on ourselves, and diminished quality of life.
There was a time in my twenties when I felt ashamed of my body. I fixated on it so much that it led to severe anxiety and not wanting to leave the house. It is not fun place to be, and it takes a lot of healing and self-compassion to get out of that mindset. We all should practice self-love to make sure we don’t fall into that trap. Here are a few ways to do that – to shift the perspective and to feel grateful for your body and all the amazing things it does:
1. Evaluate your relationship with food
At one point, I thought I had a healthy relationship with food—but I didn’t. Do you find yourself compensating for extra calories by working out excessively or skipping meals? Or perhaps you feel guilty after eating certain foods? What I personally try to focus on is enjoying as much of variety of foods, trying to eat healthy 70 % of the time and not to punish myself if I don’t. Additionally,I try to remember how important it is to nourish your body with all it needs to function at its best and to ensure hormonal health.
2. Indulge during the holidays (without guilt)
During the holidays there is a lot of foods to be enjoyed. Indulge a little. Don’t feel guilty. You will get back into regular regimen with breakfast, lunch, and dinner soon enough. But during the holidays, it’s easy to find yourself grazing throughout the day. Relax, enjoy moments with your loved ones. Savor all foods. Try not to overeat massively, not because of the calories but so you can breathe and participate in the festivities fully.
3. Be grateful for your body
There’s nothing like a health scare to make you truly appreciate your body. Whether it’s the thought of getting sick or actually becoming ill, a reminder of how fragile we are can shift our perspective. Be grateful for your body’s resilience, support it, and nurture it. It does so much for you every day.
4. Own your uniqueness
There is only one of you. It’s not even worth to waste your time trying to be someone else. There is no one else with your body, your mind, choices, the way you carry yourself. Respecting, owning, and loving your authenticity, in order to fully shine for yourself and others is the biggest gift you can cultivate.
5. Shift the focus away from yourself
Sometimes we hyper focus on ourselves so much that we forget to live. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. Give, love deeply, bake, help, laugh, celebrate, hug, dance, and be silly. That is life. It’s never about how you look after all, it all about how you make others feel. Make it be loved and appreciated.
As cliché as it sounds it is undeniable truth - life is short. Make the most out of it. Learn the biggest mission - to be truly happy, step into your power and feel incredible. And when you are ready – I’m here to capture your inner and outer sparkle in timeless images.
Gabi Kos @noruphotography
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