Body Positivity 101: How to Love Yourself

No matter how bad your day is going or how much you’re feeling in the dumps, your body deserves to be told positive stories every day. A great way to get in this mindset is by leaning into the idea of body positivity. 

With this guide, you can become familiar with the principle of body positivity and body acceptance and learn how to use it as a force for good in your life. Let’s get started!

What is “Body Positivity?” What Does it Mean?

The body positivity movement aims to advance the notion that all bodies, no matter the size, shape, color, gender, or disability status, are truly beautiful and worthy of radical love. Being body positive means saying (and believing) that every part of you is physically beautiful. 

Body positivity stands in contrast to the ideal body type that’s typically portrayed on television and social media. It recognizes that beauty and attractiveness are subjective and, therefore, up to each person what it means to them.

Body Positivity vs. Body Acceptance

Body positivity has a lot in common with the body acceptance (also known as the body neutrality) movement. Body acceptance centers around appreciating your body for what it does rather than how it looks. 

An affirmation of body acceptance might be something like, “I like my teeth because they help me eat the foods I like. They may not be perfectly straight or pearly white, but they fulfill their functions very well.” 

Body acceptance means appreciating your body despite its perceived flaws. Many people find body acceptance to be more attainable if they aren’t feeling very body positive for whatever reason.

The History of Body Positivity

The movement toward body positivity began in the late 1960s and coincided with the second wave of feminism. Like-minded individuals started speaking out against what they perceived as discrimination against overweight people. What’s now called the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) was formed to help spread awareness.

Why Body Positivity Matters

The Importance of Body Positivity

Body positivity often dovetails with higher self-esteem and lower rates of mental health conditions like depression. When you’re feeling good about your body, you’re more likely to be happier. We don’t want it to seem like we’re oversimplifying things, but being positive and loving your body comes with a wide range of benefits.

Body Positivity and Physical Health

Many people who find it challenging to be body positive also experience disordered eating, which can result in unhealthy dieting and malnourishment. 

Loving your body, no matter how much you weigh or how much cellulite is on the back of your legs, can foster healthy eating habits that are also sustainable. Food gives us energy to live our lives and become our best selves!

How Body Positivity Can Affect Sexual Wellness & Pleasure

Just like everyone deserves to feel good about their body, everyone also deserves sexual satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s not surprising, then, that positive feelings about oneself are associated with improved sexual arousal and orgasm.

A big reason for that is due to the cascading effects of body negativity. Not feeling great about your body can put you in a negative mindset and reduce your ability to perform in the bedroom. 

Conversely, having thoughts and verbal affirmations of body positivity can help you be fully present while masturbating or having sex with partners. It can also make you feel comfortable communicating your sexual needs and desires.

Body Positivity Check-In: Where Are You Now?

You won’t always feel 100 percent in love with your body, and that’s 100 percent okay. It can be useful to gauge your general feelings about your body every now and then or on a regular basis, though. 

You might want to ask yourself questions like:

• On a scale from one to 10, how much do I love my body right now?
• What is my mind telling me about my body today?
• What are my body positivity goals in the near future?
• What can I say to myself to help achieve those goals?
• What can I do to help achieve those body positivity goals?

How to Love Yourself More: 4 Tips for Boosting Body Positivity

You have many tools available in your quest to become more body positive. Here are some tips to help walk the path of body positivity.

1. Start with body acceptance.

Diving into body positivity might feel a little overwhelming if your thoughts are mostly negative right now. In those circumstances, starting with body acceptance or neutrality might be a good stepping stone to body positivity.

2. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Comparison is the thief of joy. For a long time, society has promoted the ideal body type as thin, attractive, able-bodied, heterosexual, and Caucasian. That’s so obviously misguided, and no good can come from comparing your body to others’. Besides, a lot of those magazine covers feature airbrushing and other digital manipulation tactics.

3. Wear clothing you love.

Some people who are unhappy with their bodies wear clothes they think they should be wearing instead of clothes that actually fit. You and your body deserve to feel comfortable now, and not only in the future after achieving some weight loss goal.

4. Saturate yourself with positive thoughts.

The stories we tell ourselves about our bodies largely shape reality. Positive thinking is the cornerstone of body positivity, and it’s important to give yourself affirmations regularly. If you’re finding it difficult to think positively or believe positive affirmations, consider seeking help from a mental health counselor.

Body Positivity: FAQs

Is body positivity for everyone?

Yes! Body positivity means loving the body you’re in, no matter what. However, it’s good to be mindful of body privilege, which generally applies to people whose bodies fit society’s traditional view of beauty. Always make sure people with marginalized bodies have a proverbial seat at the table!

Can body positivity be harmful?

Some people may practice or preach a distorted view of body positivity that encourages people to completely ignore physical health. Loving your body focuses on the idea that all bodies are beautiful. People who love their bodies are more likely to practice healthy eating and exercise habits.

Can body positivity border on toxic positivity?

Toxic positivity can occur when people try to bury or suppress negative thoughts with positive thinking. If you’re not feeling completely positive about your body, that’s okay—nobody feels happy all the time. Take time to work through negative thoughts, and practice body acceptance on days when you’re not feeling 100 percent.

Is body positivity important for good sex?

Feeling good and confident about your body is correlated with sexual satisfaction. Generally speaking, the better you feel about your body, the happier you’ll be when sharing your body with someone else. That said, sexual satisfaction is affected by many factors, and you might need help from a mental health professional to untangle how your feelings about your body impact intimacy with partners.