- 1000008552.jpg (59.66 KiB) Viewed 64 times
The Impact of Societal Beauty Standards
Beauty standardization by societies impacts one's self-esteem and body shape seriously. It is from childhood that we have been taught that thinness is the most accepted beauty ideal, and anything above is unacceptable. Such statements are made by the media and even the best of family and friends.
Because of that, most plus-size women suffer from distorted body image, lack of self-esteem, fears of rejection or ridicule because of their size. Some of us can feel like we need to apologize for our bodies or that we are somehow less deserving of love, respect, and happiness because of our size.
The Power of Self-Acceptance
Self-acceptance is the key that unlocks true potential to live a happy, fulfilled life. Accepting oneself, flaws and all, takes one to a whole new world. It raises all forms of confidence, resilience, and self-compassion toward self and others.
This adds an extra layer to self-accepting, especially for plus-size women, to reject the messages fed to us but rather argue on strength, skills, and real beauty.
Practical Steps For Embracing Your Curves
Embracing your body as a plus-size woman takes time, patience, and practice. Here are some practical steps to get you started:
1. Positive Self-talk Practice: The way we talk to ourselves does matter. Start applying affirmative words to boost your esteem. Keep saying 'I'm pretty', 'I'm worthy' and 'I'm enough' over again with yourself every day.
2. Spend Time Focusing on Your Strengths: Don't look into your flaws, think of all those things you've mastered in doing. What do you think makes you a unique individual? What do you love about yourself? Whatever factors you consider, large or small accomplishments, try to celebrate yourself.
3. Learn to Challenge Negative Thoughts: Negative thoughts work havoc on our self-esteem and really don't deal well with body image. The best way to fight them off is to reframe, rather than saying "I'm so fat and ugly", change it up to "I'm a beautiful unique individual who has way too much to offer."
4. Self-care: self-care is the lifeblood of our physical and mental self. The great way of being engaged in self-care is when you engage in actions that are pleasurable to you, such as taking a long bath or taking a walk.
5. Plus Sizes as Role Models: Being a Body Positive role model gives much inspiration and empowerment. Seek role models whose words champion self-acceptance and self-love and whose energy would inspire you to embrace the same.
You're not on this journey alone. There are countless other women like you, equally plus-sized, walking along the same path and eager to uplift and support themselves. Together, you and I and everyone else can build a world where most women-including those struggling with feelings of worthiness, beauty, and deserving of love and respect can truly feel it.
Owning these voluptuous curves as a plus-size woman requires more than self-acceptance, it calls for self-love. One needs to understand that everyone is unique and beautiful, therefore deserving of value and worth. One needs to deny everything that has said otherwise, whispering positive empowerment to defeat that negativity.
Take a deep breath, face the mirror, and say it with me: "I am beautiful. I am worthy. It's coming to terms with your worth and value as an individual which only reinforces the uniqueness of your beauty. One has to reject the entire negative rhetoric fed to you since childhood.
Society has taught most plus-size women that they need to transform themselves, be tinier, thinner, and prettier by conventional standards to be worthy. I'm telling you, those are lies. Curves need to be celebrated just as our uniqueness is. We rather build each other than try to tear one another down.