Body Acceptance: How to Love and Respect Your Whole Self

How can you accept your body when you feel unattractive, believe yourself to be imperfect, and wish you had the ‘perfect body’? 

When you’re surrounded by a strong focus on diet, fitness, body conditioning, and the ‘ideal’ body image, accepting our bodies as the wonderful, unique specimens that they are can feel impossible. 

So, instead of worrying about your perceived negative body image, let’s look at how you can embrace body acceptance and learn to really love all the parts of you that make you, you. 

What is Body Acceptance? 

You know those days you look in the mirror and a less-than-perfect version of your body reflects right back at you? Well, when you can look at yourself and feel at ease with what you see – even on bad body image days – that’s body acceptance. Like acknowledging that your round tummy is a reflection of becoming a mother. Or how those beautiful stretch marks tell the story of how your skin has adapted to the incredible changes your body has gone through. 

It isn’t about telling yourself your body is perfect just as it is (especially if you don’t really believe it) and that you don’t want to change anything. It’s about accepting your whole body, even those bits that you’re not satisfied with. 

It’s about fuelling yourself with nourishing food rather than following strict diets or struggling with disordered eating. It’s moving your body in a way that feels comfortable to you, rather than feeling like you’re punishing yourself through excessive exercise. 

It’s knowing that you can wear clothes that make you feel good, rather than squeezing yourself into the clothes that ‘used to’ fit you, or wearing baggy clothes to hide your frame, regardless of your shape. 

Body acceptance is about finding peace with your body exactly as it is – and treating it with the care and respect you deserve. 

What are the Benefits of Body Acceptance? 

Accepting your body exactly as it is will remove the pressure you constantly feel to conform to unrealistic standards. Here are some of the main benefits:

1. Improved Physical and Mental Health 

Struggling with a negative body image can take its toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. You may struggle with disordered eating, push yourself hard physically in an attempt to lose weight or ‘condition’ your body, or find that you worry about what to eat because you’re concerned about calories or composition. 

You may miss out on vital nutrients, leading to fatigue and other health issues. And the emotional pressure in the strive for perfection can lead to low self-esteem and poor mental health.

With body acceptance, you get to eat nutritious food that makes you feel good, and move your body in the way that you love – whether that be a gentle walk, yoga, or spending time in the garden. It releases that pressure and allows you to enjoy the day-to-day. 

2. Better Relationships

When you’re constantly worrying about how you look, it can affect how you feel in your relationships. Perhaps you struggle with intimacy, or find it difficult to focus on enjoying yourself with your friends or significant other, because you’re too focused on perfecting the bits you don’t like about yourself. 

For example, you may struggle with going out to dinner because you’re worried about what to eat and how it might affect you. When you accept your body as it is, you get to go out and enjoy yourself without the constant negative thinking patterns about what could happen if you go ‘off plan’. You can be more focused on cherishing the time you spend with friends and family and subsequently, strengthen your relationships. 

3. Higher Self-Esteem 

As we mentioned above, struggling with a negative body image can really affect our self-esteem. When you stop worrying about how you look, and learn to love and accept yourself exactly as you are, you can enjoy higher levels of self-esteem. 

Our bodies are a remarkable reflection of the amazing lives we’ve led. When we can ‘embrace our flaws’ and learn to appreciate the uniqueness of our whole selves, we can recognise how special we truly are. 

Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality 

Body positivity places emphasis on body acceptance through self-love. However, it may not work for someone who has a positive attitude towards themselves on the surface, but deep down, doesn’t believe it. 

Body neutrality, on the other hand, is perhaps a better term for body acceptance, because it encourages you to consider your body in neither a positive or a negative light. Instead, the focus is on being neutral about your body; neither loving it or hating it, and simply being at peace with who you are. 

Body Image and Self-Esteem 

As we’ve already discussed, how you feel about your body and whether or not you ‘measure up’ can directly impact your self-esteem. Particularly (as we look at below) when you compare yourself to impossible beauty standards and the media’s portrayal of the ‘perfect body’. When you can accept your body as it is, without any pressure to change, you can learn to feel at ease in your own skin and begin to boost your self-esteem. 

Of course, it’s easy enough to say ‘just accept your body’, but getting there is another matter entirely. Let’s look at what you can do to get started. 

5 Steps to Achieve Body Acceptance 

Working towards body acceptance is a very private and personal experience, and will vary from person to person. You may need more in depth support with this, but for now, here are some things you can start today to kickstart your journey to body acceptance.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others

Constantly comparing yourself with others and how they look can make finding body acceptance very difficult. Social comparison reinforces your negative beliefs around how you think you ‘should’ look. For example – a flatter stomach, smaller thighs, being more toned, or curvier, or being flawlessly beautiful.

When you hold negative beliefs about your appearance your brain will automatically look for evidence that supports them. So, when you compare yourself, you’re telling yourself that you and your body aren’t good enough.

So, next time you start comparing your body, ask yourself:

• What part of myself am I comparing?
• Why am I comparing that part of myself?
• Why do I believe that aspect of her appearance makes her ‘better’ than me?
• How is comparing myself making me feel?

Start to challenge the beliefs you hold around how you “should” look. Remember – you are so much more than a dress size, weight or body shape. 

2. Body acceptance and health

A large part of body acceptance means focusing on your health above your looks. I know many of the women I support have struggled to differentiate between healthy decisions and those that impact their weight or body shape. 

And I know from personal experience that focusing too much on your weight can negatively impact your physical, mental and emotional health. 

How do you truly feel when you are focused solely on your weight or body shape? When striving for certain goals, are your thoughts and behaviours actually healthy? Or do you sometimes skip meals, avoid carbs, or physically push yourself to the point of exhaustion?

You may believe that by focusing on your weight that you are improving your health, but to build body acceptance you need to take a more holistic approach to your health – which includes balanced nutrition, movement AND adequate rest, and positive mental wellbeing.

3. Find inspiration from others

Who you spend time with has a massive impact on how you feel about yourself. If you’re around people who make negative comments about your body, their body or someone else’s, it will reinforce your own negative beliefs about how you “should” look. These influences can make it hard to change how you see, feel, and think about yourself. 

So seek out those who share your values and goals, and spend time with those who inspire you and support you. And be ready to set boundaries with those that don’t.

4. Check in with your social media

Social media, if not used well, can be one of the biggest triggers for a negative body image and can damage your self esteem. Although social media can have a powerful and positive impact, it can also stop you from building body acceptance.

Think about who you follow on social media. What pops up on your feed that makes you feel bad?

Here are some things you can do to help you: 

• Unfollow accounts that make you feel negatively towards your body
• Follow inspiring and diverse accounts
• Make your feed not completely body focused

5. Appreciate your body for what it does for you

Instead of focusing on how your body looks, think about what your body can do for you. Here are some ideas to work with:

• Make a list of what your body can do for you on a daily basis. 
• Create affirmations (see below) for when you’re feeling negative towards your body.
• Identify ways you can move your body that feel good to you, such as walking, dancing, yoga or kickboxing. Movement is a great way to feel connected to your body.

Positive Body Affirmations 

Here are nine affirmations to help you learn to embrace your flaws and body with love and acceptance:

1. I love and accept my body exactly as it is

Your body deserves love and acceptance, regardless of its shape or size. Embrace this affirmation to celebrate your body for its uniqueness and inherent beauty. Remind yourself that you are worthy of love and acceptance, just as you are.

2. My body is unique and beautiful in it’s own right

Recognise that your body is one-of-a-kind and has its own unique beauty. Embracing this affirmation allows you to appreciate the individuality and inherent worth of your body. Celebrate the diversity of bodies and recognise that beauty comes in various forms.

3. I choose to focus on the positive aspects of my body

Shift your attention towards the positive attributes of your body rather than fixating on perceived flaws. This affirmation helps you foster a more positive and compassionate relationship with your body. Train your mind to appreciate and celebrate the things you love about your body.

4. I deserve to feel confident and comfortable in my own skin

Believe that you deserve to feel confident and at ease in your body. Repeat this affirmation to reinforce the idea that your self-worth is not determined by external factors. Embrace your uniqueness and let go of the need for validation from others.

5. I am worthy, whole and complete

Recognise that your worthiness is not dependent on your physical appearance. Embrace this affirmation to reaffirm your inherent value and wholeness beyond any superficial judgments. Remember that you are so much more than your external appearance.

6. My body is a vessel for my awesomeness

Appreciate the capabilities of your body and how it enables you to experience life. Embrace this affirmation to acknowledge the incredible things your body allows you to do. Celebrate your body’s strength, resilience, and the adventures it carries you through.

7. I am so much more than a number on a scale

Release the obsession with numbers and measurements. This affirmation reminds you that your value extends far beyond what a scale says and encourages you to focus on health and overall well-being. Embrace your body for the experiences it provides rather than how it measures up to societal standards.

8. I am grateful for what my body is able to do for me

Practise gratitude for the amazing things your body allows you to experience. This affirmation fosters a sense of appreciation for your body’s functionality and the opportunities it provides. Focus on the abilities and sensations your body offers rather than its perceived shortcomings.

9. My body deserves my love and respect

Treat your body with love, kindness, and respect. Repeat this affirmation to reinforce the importance of self-care and nurturing your body as a valuable and deserving entity. Prioritise self-love and make choices that honour your body’s well-being.

The Roadmap to Body Confidence and Self-Love

Remember that your body is always changing and body acceptance is a journey. Having bad body image days is normal and okay. Making these affirmations one of your daily habits to boost your self esteem will create positive change in your self-perception and body image.

If you feel you need more support with this, check out the Roadmap to Body Confidence and Self-Love workbook. It will supply you with all the help and tools you need to finally start living a life filled with confidence, and you can find out more by clicking the button below. 

In the meantime, if you need somewhere to talk about your concerns, I’d love to welcome you into my free, private Facebook group. It’s a safe, supportive space filled with women just like you who are looking to boost their confidence and self-esteem. You can join the Self-Esteem Society by clicking here.