How to Create a Healthy Self-Image

We live in a society where we are bombarded with images and talk that insists that we be a certain body type, or have a certain hair color, or dress a certain way, particularly for women. This is true to a lesser degree for men, but they are certainly not exempt. This sort of mind set is very unhealthy, and can lead to a number of health problems, such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety to name a few. So how can you create a healthy self-image?

The first step to creating a healthy self-image, and this is a difficult one to learn, is to accept yourself exactly as you are right now. I realize this is very hard for you if you feel you are overweight, or you don't like your gray hair, or you have a scar for example, but honestly doing this first step is very important. If you still cannot look in the mirror and accept what you see, start out by asking yourself if there is one part of your body that you like, say your hands, or as was my case, my feet. Whatever body part it is, start with that, then work towards adding parts until you can accept your image the way it is now. Work hard to like what you see in the mirror now, and also realize that what you see in the mirror is not the sum total of who you are.

Another way to help create a healthy self-image is to speak kindly to yourself by using affirmations. Affirmations are positive comments that you can make to yourself, even if you don't believe them initially. They are a way to train your brain, and to help you think positively about yourself. An example might be, "I like, and accept my body exactly as it is in this moment." Or, it can be something as simple as, "I love myself." If you are having trouble coming up with positive affirmations to say to yourself, think about compliments you have received recently and in the past that made you feel good, and then adapt them into affirmations.

Next you want to banish or at the very least reduce contact with anyone from your life that makes you feel not good about yourself. Sometimes when someone does not like themselves they will criticize those around them in order to make themselves feel better. This kind of person will not like it that you are trying to create a healthy self-image, in fact they will try to drag you down, and to change your mind. This sort of person can ruin all your hard work at a positive self-image, so if you simply cannot banish these people from your life, limit your contact with them. Remember when you do have contact to remind yourself that you are not going to buy into what they have to say which is negative or critical of you. You may find that over time when they realize they cannot make you as miserable as they are that they simply drift away and do not have contact with you any longer. While this may hurt a bit at first, keep in mind that if this person is not a healthy influence, then you don't want them around anyway.

Your closet is the next place you want to go when working towards creating a healthy self-image. Banish any clothing, and accessories such as scarves for example that do not make you feel good about yourself and how you look. Now you may be thinking, "But I can't do that, I wouldn't have any clothes left, or enough clothes." However, what is worse, wearing clothes that make you feel bad because they don't fit right, or the colors are wrong, or you don't like how they make you look? Or, just keeping the bare minimum of clothing that you do like, and then going shopping for more clothes that you will like and which look good on you now. If you can't bring yourself to get rid of the clothing you hate and or which doesn't make you feel good about yourself, then put it out of sight like in a suitcase you aren't using, or in the garage in a plastic bag. If you can't see it then you can't be reminded of how it makes you feel when you wear it.

Do the same thing with make-up, which hopefully will be easier to get rid of than clothing. The reason I mention make-up is that I found that the colors which looked good on me when I was in my twenties and early thirties, do not look the same now that I am almost forty. You may find the same thing, or if you are younger and you have been wearing for example heavy, or dark make-up that doesn't truly look good on you that you want to try something different that will compliment your skin tone better.

Jewelry is your next stop. Go through your jewelry box and get rid of or put into storage any pieces that you don't wear on a regular basis and or that you don't like how they look on you. Remember, you are trying to create a healthy self-image that you love and are comfortable with. In order to do that, you have to get rid of those things which do not reflect your new healthy image.

Remember, be kind to yourself as this is the cornerstone of a creating a healthy self-image. If you find you are speaking to yourself hatefully, or in a criticizing way, stop, take a deep breath and start over. Begin speaking to yourself kindly using affirmations. If you weren't able to get rid of or store an item of clothing that you hate, and you find yourself looking in the mirror and not caring for how you look, it's not too late! If you are not at home, just continue to speak kindly to yourself, then when you get home get rid of or store the item. Sometimes we don't know that we don't like something or how it looks on us, and that's ok. Try things on and then ask yourself how you feel, over time you will be able to know instinctively what makes you feel and look good!