In a world that celebrates perfection, it’s so incredibly easy to fall into the trap of harsh self-criticism when our bodies fail to meet society’s standards of beauty. Because who doesn’t want to be gorgeous? Who doesn’t want to have “pretty privilege”? Who doesn’t want to be accepted and appreciated for their beauty? 

As we gaze into the mirror, we don’t consider the kind words our lips have spoken but fixate on the hyperpigmentation on their sides. Instead of appreciating the healing powers of our skin, we fixate on the acne and let that bring a wave of self-hatred that very rapidly turns into a negative spiral. Amidst this relentless pursuit of perfection, we often overlook the remarkable resilience and beauty of our bodies.

Now, the question is, how to be kind to ourselves when we are ashamed of our physical appearance? When the love handles seem so detrimental to our appearance, that we don’t wear our favorite dress, when the acne is so much, hiding behind your hair seems like the better option? How do you practice self-compassion in the face of all those overwhelming negative thoughts? 

First, we recognize that they are negative thoughts, the villains in the movie that is your life. Our logical brain may agree that pretty privilege is a real thing but it is our loud insecurities that are making us hate ourselves. That voice in your head isn’t tangible but the words you speak to yourself are. So, the next time you catch yourself saying something bad about yourself, I want you to catch that negative thought and replace it with a kinder, more considerate thought. Talk to yourself as if you are talking to your 5 year old self, with love and understanding. The kind words you speak to yourself may not initially have the conviction that your negative thoughts might have but I encourage you to stick with it till your compassion towards yourself can overpower your insecurities.If you find yourself in the middle of a negative thought you can’t shake off –  Get yourself in a bubble bath, or do a hundred jumping jacks, anything to change your physical state to change your mental state.  

Secondly, learn to forgive yourself. forgive yourself for the burger you ate yesterday or for not walking 10k steps today. Forgive yourself for forgetting to drink ACV empty stomach. 

Third, cultivate a life of love, a life where you unconditionally love and accept yourself and the people around you, love the work you do, build daily routines and systems that you look forward to. I want you to create an identity for yourself that is in sync with  the person you want to become. So that you don’t resort to finding love and warmth in the bottom of the ice cream bucket. 

Also ask yourself, how dare we reduce ourselves to a societal standard? How dare we invalidate all the good things about ourselves just because our acne is redder today than it was yesterday. We are so much more than our body size or our skin. How dare we let our insecurities get in the way of that? Our self-worth and beauty isn’t that superficial, they extend way beyond the surface. 

I suggest that we stop seeking validation from the end-result. Instead of patting ourselves on the back when we have reached that ideal version of ourselves, I think we need to appreciate ourselves for working towards it. Fall in love with the process rather than waiting to fall in love with yourself for when you have achieved the ideal state. I propose that we stop shaming ourselves into working out. Rather, we do it because we love our body and we wish to take care of it better.  When we approach our journey of growth and development with kindness and compassion, we not only foster a healthier mindset but also create a nurturing environment for genuine transformation. In doing so, we honor our inherent worth and resilience, paving the way for sustainable and fulfilling self-improvement.”

 At Mind Glow hub, we are here to help you fall in love with your body and love it into unlocking your true potential. Join us to learn meditations, EFT tappings and so many not-so-common but very effective other techniques to foster a positive body image and embrace self compassion while working towards your desired physical appearance goals with us. Stay tuned for more tips, insights, and inspiration as we continue to explore the transformative power of self-compassion.