Body Image - Stop the Negative Self Talk
Jess Weiner blogs about body image on Seventeen.com, and she does a great job of cutting right to heart of the self-esteem issues young girls face. Now, I'm a far cry from 17-years-old. Heck, I have sweatshirts that are older than that. But as I was watching Jess's videos, I realized that a lot of those teenage body image issues stick with us through our very non-teenager years.
I know that I engage in negative self talk sometimes. A while ago, I was shopping with my sister and I tried on a skirt that I knew was flattering. Instead of simply saying I liked it, I asked her if it made my butt look big. I don't really know why ... maybe I was fishing for a compliment or maybe saying things in the negative is just a bad habit. Jess has some tips for breaking the negative thinking:
- Stop making negative comments about yourself because you're seeking attention. Negative comments, even when we know they aren't true, usually come from a lack of self-esteem. Put negative thoughts of yourself out there and they'll come back to you.
- Don't define yourself by your size. Find better adjectives about your health, your talents, your intelligence and your positive qualities.
- Cut off negative comments. If you have people in your life who are critical about your appearance, directly tell them that their comments are hurtful and that you need them to stop.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-14-2009 @ 4:45PM
reema said...
Hiya,
I am currently doing a research on 'is it only front cover magazines thta have an effect on young girls attitude towards body image'. I would like to hear your views and opinions about thiss issue.
Many thanks
Reema
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1-20-2009 @ 6:28PM
Sarah said...
I can tell you from experience that it is not just front cover magazines that effect body image. Because I went to an all-girls high school, I was constantly comparing myself to them and wishing I could have someone's muscle tone or whatever. At dance class, I would compare myself to the girls there. The people in my life, right in front of me, had more impact on me than celebrities did because I figured that celebs must work out for many hours a day and with a trainer. But high school girls did activities similar to me.
I do not think we'll ever be able to stop teenagers from bashing their bodies, but parents can help quite a bit. They can promote healthy eating and routines, while making sure their child is happy. Happiness is key.
1-19-2009 @ 1:45PM
CED said...
Stopping negative self talk is very important but can be hard to do! We were recently able to talk to Kirsten Haglund, Miss America, about body image and we have shared the interview on our eating disorder blog. Kirsten talks about how the pressures to be thin and what she does to maintain a healthy body image. If you’d like to learn more visit our blog: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/2009/01/14/q-a-with-miss-america-2008-kirsten-haglund-part-ii-of-iii/
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