Body Affirmations
It is no secret that we are a society that is body focused. Everywhere you look today you see messages that guide you to look at the human body and most of the time these messages are prompting you to compare your body to bodies that are in the media, which are often illusions created by technology.
This way of thinking promotes behavior that can lead to a dangerous way of thinking, affect how you treat others, and hurt your mental health. Fortunately we have a way of combating this dangerous way of thinking on a regular basis and that is body affirmations.
Affirmations are a powerful tool that we can use daily to affect how we think in the subconscious mind. Adopting a practice that includes daily affirmations over the course of time can drastically improve your quality of life! While there are many different types of affirmations that can be used to focus on specific areas of your life, this article will focus on body affirmations and how these affirmations can be used to combat dangerous thoughts and patterns as well as how a body affirmation practice can help you lead an overall happier life!
Body Focus in Society
Sex sells!! We have heard that time and time again! It is the phrase that advertisers use when they need a fast justification for any advertisement that promotes the glorification of bodies that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye or considered to be “sexy.” The truth is that, over time, society has determined what qualifies as being “sexy.”
In the pre 1900s era various sculptures around the world exhibited the silhouettes of full figured women! This was considered a desirable body image. Over time society’s idea of what a desirable body image has changed, thus creating a state of lack or mental awareness inside many of us that we are not enough. Evidence of this can be seen on billboards, television advertisements, and in social media!
Feeling a disconnect with your body is not something to take lightly. This can spark harmful thoughts within the mind that you are not enough, and nothing could be further from the truth. Having disturbing thoughts about your body image is harmful enough to spark a downward spiral in which you are more susceptible to thoughts of lack or that you are not enough. Going on this type of downward spiral with your thoughts is very harmful to your psyche and causes you to vibrate at a lower frequency which will affect what you attract into your life.
Vibrating at a low frequency can cause you to attract undesirable experiences. This is where using body affirmations as a tool in your daily practice can be beneficial! If you are sending subconscious messages daily to your mind that YOU ARE ENOUGH, then you can effectively change your way of thinking (and being) at the subconscious level.
What is Body Shaming?
Body shaming is a term that you may have heard more in recent years. Our society is becoming increasingly more aware of the harmful effects of comparing our bodies to others. With the rise in popularity of social media body shaming is becoming a much bigger issue. Someone may post a picture online of themselves or someone else in a swimsuit or other body revealing outfit. This picture may get hundreds, thousands, or in some cases millions of views. Every person who views that photograph is seeing through their own individual perspective, and some of those people may post harmful negative comments about someone’s body. This is called body shaming.
Most of the time when someone participates in an act of body shaming it is because they have experienced body image issues themselves and are not able to work through those issues in a healthy way. They turn their feelings outward in an effort to make sense of the trauma they have personally experienced. Body shaming is a harmful practice that can lead to thoughts such as not being enough, fear of failure, or even thoughts of harming oneself through unhealthy weight loss or weight gain plans. Body shaming is not something that should be taken lightly! One of the best tools to combat this way of thinking is body affirmations!
What Are Body Affirmations?
Affirmations are words or phrases that you repeat regularly with the intention of reprogramming your subconscious and inadvertently changing your thoughts and habits in your everyday life. Studies have proven affirmations to be very effective, and using affirmations is completely safe since it is a way of making changes strictly through changing your thoughts. There is no harmful chemicals or medications required for affirmations to be effective.
One great benefit is that affirmations can be used for anything and body affirmations are the perfect way to change your thoughts about how you feel about your own body! When you repeat body affirmations daily you are sending subliminal messages to your subconscious that you love your body! Over time this practice can effectively dissolve any existing thoughts or negative feelings associated with your body.
Having a healthy relationship with your body is likely the most important relationship you can have since having a healthy body is what keeps us alive longer. There is also a mind body connection that is acknowledged by science even though it is unexplainable. A famous quote that is referenced in Buddhist tradition is “as you think so shall you become.” This quote is a perfect explanation of how body affirmations work. Phrases that are repeated daily become a belief. That belief encourages thoughts in the mind, and outwardly we are reflections of our thoughts. Body affirmations are a way to thrive in a world that is so body focused, and this way of thinking has been around for ages!
Examples of Body Affirmations
Creating your own body affirmations can be an overwhelming task if you have never had an affirmation practice. Here are some examples of body affirmations that you can use today! Use these affirmations as often as you would like! One day you may want to create your own or take one of the following affirmations and change it around to fit your needs! Playing with body affirmations is a fun way to practice being creative and it is extremely beneficial to your mental and physical health and wellbeing!
Most Powerful Body Affirmations:
I love my body
My body is a temple of health and wellness
My body is perfection
My body is a radiant temple of light
My body is perfect, whole, and complete.
My body is an earthly expression of love
My body serves me in all situations
My body is strong
My body is healthy and fit
I am good to my body
My body is an outward expression of my thoughts
My body is allowed to change
My body is miraculous
I am confident in my body
My body is beautiful and unique
I am at peace with my body
I lovingly accept my body
My body is worthy of love and acceptance
My body is a gift
I honor my body in all thoughts and actions
Using Body Affirmations to Develop a Healthy Relationship With Your Body
The best benefit of using body affirmations is that you will develop a healthy relationship with your body. Having a healthy relationship with your body is important for your mental and physical wellbeing. When you use body affirmations to strengthen your relationship with your body you are also beginning to love your body, and loving your body will cause you to adopt habits that give your body the care it needs to stay healthy.
When you use body affirmations to grow that sense of loving your body you will start to only crave or want foods that nourish your body and give your body what it needs to stay healthy. You may unconsciously shut off any “junk food” cravings that you had prior to using body affirmations.
When you are using body affirmations you may also want to do activities like take a walk outside, go for a swim in the ocean, or picnic at the park. Spending time in nature is great for your mental health and is a way to stay active which keeps the body physically healthy as well.
Body affirmations are a very effective tool for mental and physical health that we should all adopt as a daily practice. Using body affirmations is a way of giving yourself love so that you can live a happier and more abundant life! When your loved ones see the change in your personality and how you love yourself, your relationships may also reflect the benefits of your body affirmations practice. This creates a ripple affect that starts with how you view yourself and radiates outward. This ripple effect creates an energy of love and abundance to all those that are connected to you or those who may cross your path ensuring that you have a better quality of life and a deeper appreciation for your body!