Mondays can be rough for many of us, and this doesn’t create the ideal environment for building a better body image. To help you turn that around, every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit to help boost your body image – and kick-start the week on a positive note.

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

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Last week, we talked about the things that seem to override our positive body image, such as: unsupportive family or friends, people who fat talk, social settings where we don’t know anyone or going to the beach or gym.

Today, let’s talk about the things that make you feel great about your body and yourself.

Just like we can learn from our negative triggers, we can also learn from our positive ones.

In addition to putting ourselves in these positive situations, it’s helpful to dig deeper to see what about these situations and experiences makes us feel good.

For example, I feel great about my body when I’m working out. Not because I’m shedding pounds or incinerating calories, but because I feel strong, and my endorphins are sending happy vibes throughout my body.

I’ve learned that when I’m anxious or stressed out, my positive body image plummets. Also, my inner critic loves to shout about how weak and incapable I am. When I’m working out, the strength I feel quiets that critical voice.

For many people, yoga is a prominent body positive activity. It’s the idea of cultivating inner peace and total acceptance that’s probably so helpful.

Other positive triggers might be: looking at old photos of the women in your family (because it reminds you of the beautiful and amazing women all around you; and you’re part of that); hanging out with a particular friend or family member (because they’re so positive and fun that you don’t even focus on your appearance); or spending the day outside (because you feel like you’re part of something bigger; you gain an appreciation for the beauty of nature and yourself).

Maybe you feel better after journaling because you’re releasing emotions, which, when bottled up, can wreak havoc on your body image. Maybe you feel better while you’re dancing because you feel sexy and free and are just having a fun time. Maybe you feel better when you’re around your parents, because they love you unconditionally.

Again, when we look at these positive triggers more closely, we can see what helps us to feel great (or at least helps us to stop nit-picking or being totally negative).

Being with loving parents might reveal the importance of cultivating unconditional self-love. Journaling might reveal the importance of releasing your emotions for your body image. Dancing might reveal the importance of letting go sometimes and not taking yourself too seriously.

With all this talk about triggers, the key is to realize that we can control our body image. Not a 100 percent, maybe not even 80. Of course, body image isn’t rainbows and butterflies all the time – and that’s totally OK. We’ve all been there, and we’ll continue to be there sometimes.

But there are things we can do to improve how we feel about our bodies and ourselves.

We can choose to be around people who love us for us, who make us feel fabulous. We can choose to participate in physical activities that make us feel amazing in our bodies. We can choose to engage in any other activities that put a smile on our faces.

While it’s important to cultivate a positive body image from the inside out, it’s also important to seek out the things that brighten it from day to day.

What moments or triggers boost your body image? What can you learn from these boosters?

P.S.  Recently Jessica, our blog editor, wrote an incredible post on her blog about trying to accept and love her body. It’s so relatable!

P.P.S, We’re back at the Self-Discovery Series for April! Mara from Medicinal Marzipan is hosting this month. Check out her post to see this month’s word!

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    Last reviewed: 4 Apr 2011