When one asks if practicing self-love is hard, it is easy to say but difficult to do. It requires time, patience and being truly vulnerable and it is not something to be ashamed of. You should not populate your mind with unrealistic expectations, but instead practice self-love and embrace your body.
“Real beauty isn’t about symmetry, weight or makeup. It is about looking life right in the face and seeing all it’s magnificence reflected in your own” – Valerie Monroe
The Fashion scene is changing and you can now find role models with different body shapes and the evolving social media platform has become a voice for all. Any act of body shaming including skinny, fat, bald or having skin conditions should not be tolerated. According to recent research,’‘It found that 87% of women and 65% of men compare their bodies to images they consume on social and traditional media.’’
Photo credit Bojidar Chkorev
One of the largest and most influential ways to impact society is via social media. With the rise of Instagram celebrities and the ever-growing wide adaptation of Instagrammers who phenotypically showcase to thousands and sometimes millions of people, this could lead users to judge their own physical features. As a result, poor body image and social media have become inextricably linked.
Photo credit Artist Myla
Over the years, there has been an increase in advertisements and campaigns that welcome all sized women. Society has within itself changed the way we accept women of all sizes and this, from a macro perspective, will hopefully remove the misconceptions of beauty standards.
The beauty in loving yourself and embracing your body can allow you to channel that energy and attitude which can positively influence other people around you. This, in turn, will influence the upcoming generation and their perception of beauty.
Whether you have curves or not and regardless of your body shape, you should indulge in self love and affirmation!
Photo credit Ambient Jade
Heard of the saying, ‘Your body is like a temple – take care of it’.
If you were that young girl who went on endless carbless diets, started and quickly felt demotivated to continue working on those rigorous exercise programs and have worn baggy clothes to hide your figure from the public, let me tell you this: it’s 2020, embrace and love yourself. Don’t shun away for you are unique in your own way.
By SAOIRSE H.E