Body Image Reimagined

In this day and age, there are many numbers that we can be defined by. Age, salary, and even Instagram likes all attempt to quantify who we are by reducing our self-worth into a single number. But the one number that can cut confidence like no other is the one we see when we step on the bathroom scale. And that’s just wrong.

Honestly, I believe every person has issues with how they look. Models, with the perfect face and body, ironically seem to be the most insecure. Why else would they constantly tone, color, wax, and paint themselves? No matter where you are on the scale of physical attractiveness, it is likely that you are no more concerned with your looks than anyone else. That’s the interesting thing about body image: the prettier people aren’t happier, unlike all the ads and workout programs would like us to believe. The more secure people are happier because they don’t waste all their time worrying about what everyone else thinks of them.

You’re obviously free to disagree with me on this, but the way I look at it, judging your body harshly is like accepting a job you hate. Everyday you will work and have a low quality of life while waiting for a few days out of the year where you get to feel good and go on vacation. But accepting yourself is like taking a job you really enjoy, so everyday is a happy one.

Now you may be thinking, “Well that’s all fine and good, but how can I wholly accept myself?” I’d be lying to you if I told you I’ve found an infallible answer. There will continue to be corporations, cliques, and people telling you that you need to change. And there will be times when you are one of those people, convincing yourself that you need a thigh gap, a defined jawline, a smaller nose, smoother skin, whiter teeth, etc. In these times it is best to focus on the things that are good about your body- or anything else about you. Any small thing that doesn’t need criticism should be focused on. Force yourself to appreciate the good things, no matter how small they are. It’s all too easy to focus on our flaws. But I think if we put in a little effort, we’ll find that there are just as many great things about our appearance as there are flaws, we just have to see them.

All in all, if you still don’t like the way you look, don’t get down about it. Physical appearance is far, far away from the most important thing in life. We all need to calm down about how we look, because life is too short to waste years in a body we hate.