Accepting how your body looks and feels is an important step towards developing a more positive body-image. Social media, doctors, friends, and family often influence our thoughts about our bodies, but as we get older, it is important to reflect on our own thoughts and how to improve our own body confidence. Here are some tips to support development of a positive body-image:

• Appreciate all that your body can do for you such as giving you energy for soccer, healthy lungs for breathing, and strong legs for walking.
• Write down things that you like about yourself. These things do not need to be related to what you look like. Remember, you are a whole person and not a list of specific body parts. 
• Be in control of the negative thoughts related to body image, such as thoughts about how a body “should” look. Replace those thoughts with a more rational perspective. 
• Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and make you feel confident about your body. 
• Be critical of social media messages and ask yourself if the image being portrayed is realistic and/or attainable. 
• Do something nice for yourself and show your body that you appreciate it! Let your body relax in a bubble bath, provide it with healthy foods, or enjoy a run or a hike. 
• Surround yourself with body positive people who are confident in their own bodies. This mindset can be contagious!

Written by Ashley Carlson, Clinical Counsellor with Wildflowers