Changing Our Bodies: The Ins & Outs Of Self-Esteem

Studies have shown that a massive 91 percent of women dislike their bodies for one reason or another. The problem with this is that body image is directly linked to self-esteem. This means that the majority of women have low self-esteem for one reason or another - that’s a sad statistic. We live in a world where images of ‘perfect’ people are everywhere. Research has shown that only five percent of people can healthily achieve a body size and shape that mimics that of the women in the media.

That being said, the good news is that there are plenty of ways that you can boost your self-esteem and learn to love your body. 

Here are some of the best ways you can boost your body confidence and feel better about yourself.

Dealing with weight-related issues

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Is your weight the main cause of your lack of self-esteem? If this is the case, the first step is to determine how healthy your body is - this can be done by working out your body mass index or BMI. If this shows that you’re a healthy weight for your height, then there’s no need to worry. If, however, it shows that you’re overweight or underweight, you need to find a way to change that. Simply by eating more healthily, you can make your body healthier. Whether you’re underweight or overweight, it’s a good idea to find out how many calories you should be intaking each day. This will help you to get your body back in shape. Remember, if you weigh a healthy weight but still aren’t happy with how you look, it could just be a case of toning up.

Changing a feature of your body

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One of the most common causes of a lack of self-esteem is linked to disliking one of your features. Whether this is your nose or your breasts, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you find a way to get past this and learn to love your body for what it is. Of course, this is something that can often be much easier said than done. A lot of the time, cosmetic surgery is looked at negatively and we really don't see why we should change it. I mean let's face it, you are beautiful as you are. However, if there’s a feature that you dislike and just can’t get past, such as the size of your breasts, surgery is an option, though one we don't fully encourage. Sometimes, the dislike for that feature can be worked on by looking at ourselves and working on self-love and appreciation. However, if you just can't look past it. Get informed and educated on the matter. For some women, getting cohesive gel implants to change the shape and size of their breasts can be a boost to self-esteem. And we are not judging! Do remember, however, sometimes surgeries are not worth having and even so, they may case irreversible damage. If there’s a feature that you have always hated and can’t seem to get past, this is an option. However, working on self-love, with exercises such as meditation and yoga can help you find that missing piece. You deserve to feel happy and you can do that by practicing kindness with yourself and others. Perfection is unattainable but finding a balance with yourself and how you accept yourself and love yourself is not. You can love yourself and be happy just the way you are. 

Learning to be positive about yourself

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If you’re always negative about yourself, it’s going to have an impact. That’s why it’s so important that you learn how to be positive about yourself. Don’t make the mistake of comparing yourself to others, because this will severely dent your confidence. Instead, learn to love your body for what it is. Be positive about yourself and you will slowly increase your self-esteem.

It’s no secret that we all have body hang-ups, even the women on the catwalks do. What it’s important to remember, however, is that your body is amazing, regardless of the size or shape. If you want to be confident, you need to learn to love and appreciate your body for what it is. Or, make the changes that will allow you to feel happier and more confident.

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​by Iconic Chica Contributors