Negative body image can be identified by:1) An unrealistic view of your body shape. There’s nothing wrong with being curvy or petite, but there is something wrong with thinking your natural shape isn’t good enough. 2) Feelings of failure that come from your perceived shape or size. Even if you can improve your diet or exercise more regularly, your body’s characteristics are not a reflection of your worth. Worth comes from within. 3) Feelings of shame, embarrassment, or strong anxiety about your body. Being a little shy is normal. Having an anxiety attack or some other physical anxiety response is likely a sign of negative body image. 4) Feelings of discomfort in your own skin. Being too self-conscious can lead you to over-thinking even simple motions, making these seem unnatural to you. [3] X Trustworthy Source National Eating Disorders Association Nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and communities affected by eating disorders Go to source
Try to find a feature you dislike in yourself in someone you admire in your personal life. A good place to look for this is your family life. By recognizing a feature you dislike in yourself in a favorite family member, like your aunt, your mother, and so on, you can begin opposing your negative thoughts by telling yourself, “I think mom looks beautiful, and people compare me to her all the time. I’m a lot more beautiful than I realize. " Coach yourself to accept whatever physical shortcomings you believe you have as part of being human. Replace your criticisms with kind and reassuring words of encouragement. You aren’t responsible for that mole on your cheek, but you are for your feelings and how you treat yourself. You’re not a loser, a freak, or hideous. You’re unique. That makes you special.
Whenever you find yourself comparing your features to those in the media, oppose those thoughts! Tell yourself, “I am beautiful, and these women don’t represent a healthy standard that everyone can achieve. " This will reinforce a healthier way of thinking, which can help you with depression and anxiety, both of which can hurt your attractiveness. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You could spend thousands of dollars, if not more, on image-related products and treatments. But even with the most radical makeovers, if you’re unhappy with who you are on the inside, no change to your appearance will change how you feel.
Dress yourself lovingly in your favorite styles. Some styles suit some individuals more than others; take some time to explore different styles to find what works best for you! Put your best face forward in your daily life by looking your best. By accentuating your best features and nourishing your body with healthy alternatives, like a balanced diet, you’ll start looking, and feeling, better. Work to support, and allow yourself to be supported by your friends. Imbalanced relationships can lead to resentment, and this can create what is referred to as a “toxic relationship. " These kinds of relationship can lower your self esteem and emotionally exhaust you, which can make you feel, and look, less attractive. [9] X Research source
Identify unhealthy areas and wean yourself from those areas little by little. High sugar foods and beverages that have little nutritional content, like soft drinks and candy, can be removed from your diet and have a drastic positive impact on your physical health. [12] X Research source Consult your doctor or a nutritionist for more ideas about how you can improve your diet. Hydrate and replenish your skin. Dry or poorly cared for skin can give you an appearance that is tired, making you look less than your best. But there are many techniques you can use to make your skin bright and healthy Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to many negative health effects, like poor performance/alertness, poor quality of life, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and others. [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Improve your overall health and appearance by improving your beauty sleep. Ease into a workout routine. No one ever hopped off a couch to run a marathon without at least a little training first! If one of your specific goals is to be able to run a mile without stopping - walk before you run. For two weeks you might walk a half mile every other day. The following two weeks you might walk/run that distance, stopping whenever necessary. In this way, slowly work your way into an exercise routine. [14] X Research source
Use online resources, like meetup. com or citysocializer. com, to find people in your area with similar interests who want to socialize. These kinds of sites provide a public venue where you can meet guys you otherwise might not have. Check your city’s local event calendar at your community center, or do a general online search for “local social events near me. " This should give you a general idea of festivals, art exhibitions, and other local events you might enjoy. You might also look into local clubs, classes offered at your local community college or community center, or sports league. Some clubs, classes, or sports you might find rewarding in your search for the right guy include book clubs, board game groups, choirs, political functions, creative writing classes, art classes, cooking classes, improv classes, beach volleyball, kickball, dodgeball, and more!
Try a new approach to an everyday situation. This could be a simple as trying out a new route to your job. The key here is putting yourself in a situation where your perspective is different from the usual. Make small changes and build your way up to trying things that are significantly new and different. Pushing yourself too hard can create too much anxiety, which can lead to you feeling paralyzed or overwhelmed. Start small and work your way up to bigger changes. [19] X Research source
If a male friend you’re interested in developing a relationship with pressures you to do things he wants to do without regarding your feelings, makes you feel sad or scared about the state of our relationship, or asks you to invest the majority of your time and energy on him, your relationship might be more harmful than healthy. These may be indications that you should not pursue a relationship with him.
Eye contact can also make you seem more attractive and likable to him. Looking deeply into his eyes will raise your chances of winning him over. [21] X Research source You might trick him into eye prolonged eye contact with a simple ploy. For example, you could touch his arm and ask him to look at you. Gaze deeply into his eyes. After a few moments, ask him if he wears contact lenses, even if you know he does not. This way, the eye contact is less awkward. [22] X Research source
Even if you’ve invited him over for something as innocent as studying for a test, watching a movie as friends, or some similar activity, dim your lights or use the gentle lighting of a lamp instead of bright overhead lights.
If you’re not comfortable with overt touches while you’re getting to know him better, you could always sit next to him instead of on the other side of a table. This way your arms and thighs touch, causing Oxytocin to be released and, perhaps, romance to blossom. [26] X Research source
You could practice your comedic skills on him so you both can smile and laugh together. He might want to spend more time around you if he finds you funny, and this could develop into a relationship. A natural way you both can enjoy a laugh is by suggesting going to a comedy club. If you’re not yet sure if you want to pursue him romantically, you could go with several friends, but you might want to sit next to him and engage him whenever you can.
