Four Steps to Take When You're Having a Bad Body Image Day

Still, there are times, when I’m not particularly feeling myself, despite the years I spent peeling back the layers of body shame I acquired from our society.
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Yes, it is true, that even after all that unpacking, undoing, unlearning the perilous beliefs about bodies—I sometimes experience bad body image days.
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Those days where you’re uncomfortable living in your skin, and feeling, for lack of a better term, blah.
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Loving yourself doesn’t automatically exempt you from these moments. It happens. It happens less, but it still happens.
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So, whilst these days do appear, it doesn’t detract from the work you’ve put in, nor does it mean you’re failing at loving yourself.
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All it simply means is you’re a human trying to love yourself when you live in a world that tells you not to. Like duh, of course those old narratives, feelings, and ideas about how you should look will resurface every now and again.
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It isn’t easy existing in a world that is flooded with oppressive messaging and encourages the notion that you need to mold yourself into these arbitrary beauty standards just to be good enough.
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It’s fucking hard, honey.
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So, when these normal feelings do arise and you’re faced with a bad body day, here are four steps to take:
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🥰 Be easy on yourself. Remind yourself these days are expected. Don’t hate yourself for hating on yourself—I mean, like the fuck, come on now. That’s only tying knots into what you’re currently trying to untangle, silly.
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💭 Practice observing thoughts that come up without engaging in them. It’s like meditation, you see the thoughts exist, but you choose not to entertain them or give them attention—you, instead, come back to the present moment. Zen AF, am I right?
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✍️ Write down what’s coming up for you and dig into the root as to why. Did someone make a nasty comment? Was it a photo you saw on Instagram? An experience you had that made you feel uncomfortable? It’s helpful when there’s clarity on why it’s coming back up, because it invites in that understanding.
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🤸‍♀️ Do something that makes you feel good in your body, right now. Dance. Mαsturbate. Participate in activity you ENJOY. Get a massage. Give hugs to yourself & others.