💖 Like How? Practical Steps to Embracing Body Positivity and Making a Splash 💧
The question, “Like how?” is the most honest reaction to the trending phrases #bodypositivity and #MakeASplash. We see the beautiful, confident photos on the #fyp, but bridging the gap between admiring a concept and applying it to your own life is the real challenge. Body positivity isn’t just about saying you love yourself; it’s about actively changing the way you think, speak, and act toward your body every single day.
It’s a journey, not a destination, and here are practical steps on how to truly make that internal shift and embrace confidence.
1. Detox Your Feed (and Your Mind)
Body positivity starts with controlling the messages you consume. If you feel bad about your body after scrolling through social media, it’s not a personal failing—it’s a data problem.
- Unfollow and Mute: Immediately unfollow any account that makes you feel inadequate, competitive, or ashamed. This includes accounts that promote extreme diets, unrealistic “before and afters,” or aggressive fitness routines designed to punish your body.
- Follow for Reality: Actively seek out and follow diverse voices. Look for creators of all sizes, ages, abilities, and skin types. Find people who talk about their struggles, their triumphs, and the reality of life. Saturating your feed with diverse, positive representation recalibrates your idea of what beauty looks like.
- Acknowledge Internalized Bias: Every time you have a negative thought about your body, acknowledge it’s usually an external message you internalized, not a factual truth. Interrupt the thought with a counter-statement: “I am having a thought that my legs are too big. That thought is based on media standards, not reality. My legs are strong and carry me every day.”
2. Focus on Function, Not Aesthetics
One of the quickest ways to move toward body neutrality (the step before body positivity) is to stop judging your body by its appearance and start celebrating it for its function.
- The “Thank You” Ritual: Take a moment each day to thank your body for what it does. Thank your eyes for allowing you to read, your hands for preparing your food, or your lungs for breathing through a stressful moment. This re-wires your brain to appreciate your body as an incredible tool, not a decorative object.
- Movement for Joy: If you choose to exercise, make the goal joy, not punishment. Move your body in ways that feel good—a silly dance session, a relaxing swim, or a brisk walk. Detach physical activity from the goal of changing your size or shape.
3. Stop the Comparison Conversation
Comparison is the thief of joy, and it’s the biggest roadblock to embracing yourself.
- The Look Away Rule: When you catch yourself comparing your body, clothing, or appearance to someone else’s, mentally label that conversation as “Comparison” and immediately redirect your attention. It’s often helpful to physically look away or scroll past the image.
- Ditch the Mirror Policing: If you find yourself spending excessive time scrutinizing your reflection for flaws, limit your mirror time. Use the mirror only for functional things: brushing your teeth, doing your hair, or checking your clothes—then walk away.
Making a splash in the world of body positivity is simply being bold enough to be yourself, unapologetically. Start small, be patient, and celebrate every time you choose kindness over criticism.
