We live in a society where body image is a major part of everyday life. It’s likely that the clothes you wear, nutritional intake, and your activity level are all influenced by your body image. Body image is related to your level of confidence, so it can even influence the goals you pursue in your life, the career you go after, and the friends or romantic partner you have.

The way you see yourself and your level of satisfaction with yourself is essentially what makes up your body image. Although you might think that body image is a physical thing, it is actually very much the way you see yourself as a whole—both on the inside and on the outside. The reason we know this to be true is because a person may be considered physically attractive by others, but that person can have a poor body image. This can happen because that person may not see him/herself in a positive way or may have low self-esteem or poor confidence in themselves. This is a recipe for poor body image. The saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” applies very much to the way you see and evaluate yourself. The fact that body image is less of a physical dynamic and more of an internal and emotional phenomenon is great news because it means that body image can be developed and improved, providing greater courage and confidence in yourself.

In some cases, a poor body image and low self-esteem can progress further and lead to more serious issues related to how you see yourself. Some people develop pathological issues with body image such as the disorder known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In such cases, the person’s self-esteem has been so severely damaged that they begin to lose touch with reality. The negative thoughts and beliefs they have about themselves become so engrained in their perception that they truly see themselves as physically defective and flawed. This person’s daily life becomes consumed with body image—but not in attempts to accept themselves as they are and develop greater confidence. Instead, the person is preoccupied with achieving a better appearance and physically improving the way they look, never feeling satisfied with any outcome or attempt.

The belief you have about yourself, as a physical and emotional being, is central to living a healthy, happy, and meaningful life. A positive body image, where you accept and love yourself as you are, provides you an endless platform to learn, grow, enjoy relationships, and find meaning and joy in life.

If you suspect you struggle with or have questions about Body Image, feel free to contact my office.

After all, the first step to clarity and peace of mind is to #JustBegin