{Since I know taking and sharing selfies is a vulnerable process, I figured I’d get us started. So that’s me, wearing one of my favorite jackets and rings}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your 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!

Taking self-portraits is a vulnerable act. Many of us barely like looking in the mirror. So capturing ourselves with a camera — a sort of permanent image — feels uncomfortable, silly and even scary.

So why the heck am I suggesting you try it?

{via etsy by Marcela Gallo}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your week on a positive note!

Today, I’m pleased to present a guest post from Mary Borchers, who writes a blog about the day-to-day struggles of dealing with depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. Below, she talks about the importance of being seen, and seeing others.

{via etsy by Keri Bevan}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

I loved watching Brene Brown on Oprah. She talked about daring greatly, shame, vulnerability and gratitude. Here’s the first and second shows.

{via etsy by April}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your 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!

Mindfulness can be helpful in improving our body image. It can remind us to savor the here and now (and stop chasing thinness). To tune out the noise of women’s magazines and other unhelpful media — and tune into ourselves. To savor our food and tiny moments. To observe our bodies, thoughts and feelings without judgement. These are incredibly powerful things.

A few years ago, professor and author Michelle Lelwica, ThD, explained the benefits of mindfulness in an interview here on Weightless.

{via etsy by Georgianna}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Molly shares 9 great ways to practice gratitude. I especially love this reminder: “Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop or remaining convinced our joy will disappear the moment we acknowledge it, we need to be grateful as hell for all the wonder, victories, small moments and grace in our life.”

A simple way to calm yourself.

{via etsy by Elle Moss}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your 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!

I’ve always been afraid of feeling too much pleasure, joy or comfort.

For instance, I’ve believed that work must be arduous, even miserable, at times. It’s work, after all.

If it’s easy and enjoyable, then clearly you can’t do a good enough job. Clearly, in order to submit good work, you must feel the difficulty, the rigor, and barrel through it.

{via etsy by Lupen Grainne}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Mara chats with Hannah all about self-love in this poignant video.

Anna reveals what she’s learned from lap swimming and shares 5 tips for trying something new. I also love her post on having your own back.

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your 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!

Recently I received a gorgeous package from Michelle McGrath, who has a beautiful website all about learning to love ourselves. In the package, she included a deck of inspiring self-love cards.

Today, I’d like to share a few of my favorite cards, which include both inspiring quotes and thought-provoking questions.

{via etsy by Karie Jorgensen}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Mara and Christie chat about self-care in this super valuable podcast. One of the topics they delved into was hygiene and the idea that you only shower and put on nice clothes if you’re going out. Wow. I can sooo relate to thinking the same way. I think this idea goes hand in hand with the idea that putting on your nicest perfume or clothes is a waste.

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your 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!

Many of us know that it’s important to be kind to ourselves. But for many of us it’s also very hard.

Several things can stand in our way: We don’t even realize we’re struggling and need kindness; our inner critic roars so loudly that nothing else can get through; we think self-kindness or self-compassion is selfish; we think we don’t deserve it; or we think self-compassion will lead to laziness and complacency.