5 Ways to Stop Being Body Conscious

From a girl who had no other choice but to have a slightly bigger body.

Alright, look, we all have struggled with our own bodies. I’m sure that we all looked up ways of how to be more confident or how to stop being body conscious at least once, at some point on the internet, myself included.

I don’t know about you, but I couldn't find the ways that suited me. My body is different from the majority because I’ve never been the society’s standard of slim due to the blood transfusion I needed to receive when I was a baby. Without the blood, I would probably be dead a few days later.

So, fueled by my dissatisfaction with myself and my desperation, I made my own ways on how to deal with it.

1. Hype Yourself Up

I got this idea from watching too much coming of age movies, but hey — it worked! Do you know those scenes where the main lead would feel themselves when in the shower or when getting ready to go out somewhere? It’s similar to that but is more tamed, and it takes less time.

I would look at myself in the mirror, typically after a shower, and vocally tell myself, “You are beautiful” with as much confidence I can muster for at least three times every single morning.

I replaced the time I unknowingly scheduled to find my flaws in the mirror and criticize each part by telling myself that I am beautiful. It’s basically an act of manipulating myself into thinking that I’m beautiful until I believe so.

On the days where my mind is too stubborn to recognize my own beauty, I would tell myself the same words but in a scolding manner. The same way you would yell a compliment to a friend because they wouldn’t accept it — “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! NOW, SHUT UP!”.

You might not see the results at first, but trust me, it works. You start believing in the words a little bit more every time you say and hear it.

2. Dress Yourself Powerfully & Comfortably

To put it bluntly, clothes matter. Whether you are aware of it or not, and whether you like fashion or not, you would feel better, sassier, or even timider when wearing certain clothes.

I used to think that I have to dress fancy or wear expensive pieces of clothing to feel good due to being influenced by famous people on social media, but it was the complete opposite. I felt more conscious and uncomfortable throughout the day.

So I started buying clothes that I find cool or pretty on my body without neglecting comfort. It doesn't have to be expensive either. Most of my outfits are cheap or thrifted, and they work fine.

I find wearing slacks and blazers very powerful most of the time. When I need a tiny bit more confidence boost, I’ll pair it with 2-inches heels with socks underneath (remember, comfort!). But somedays, I find wearing my favorite jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers more powerful than the casual office look. So, I’ll wear that instead.

I dress powerfully and comfortably according to my own standards because when I know that I look good in my own eyes, and I feel good, I don’t have the time to think otherwise.

3. Do It for Your Own Sake

Let me share with you a quote that opened my eyes during the early days of my self-loving journey:

“If we do something to make ourselves worthy in the eyes of others, we are not seeing the worth in ourselves. It’s amazing how much more we live by what we should do than by what we want to do.”

— David Kessler, Life Lessons

Before I found my ways of dealing with my body consciousness, I would exercise every day. I enjoyed it at first, but in the end, I stopped. Because although I was losing weight and I loved it, I couldn’t force myself to continue with the routine.

I found that I was doing it because society is indirectly asking me to do so, through social media and words like oh, you look like you gained weight.

Now I do things because I want to. I run almost every morning because I want to be healthy and be stronger, and so forth.

4. Find Your Exercise

When everybody surrounding me was starting to go to the gym, I was doing a home workout from Youtube. When they are currently still going to the gym, I run or dance as my exercise.

Many of us seem to forget the existence of other exercises when the word “exercise” comes up. This is an issue because when you don’t like what you’re doing, you’re bound to eventually stop doing it.

Years after I stopped doing the home workout, I wanted to introduce it back to my routine again. However, I failed. It turned out that my preference had changed. Surprisingly, the me that used to hate running now likes running.

So, you should find what suits you best instead of blindly following others by going to the gym.

5. Be Naked More Often

Yes, you read that right. Be naked. Or if you don’t have the luxury to do so decently, then wear more revealing clothing. However, do so only if you’re comfortable with it and the people around you.

I used to hate my naked body, but after living on an island with two other girls for four months in a small space, and where bikinis, as well as other revealing items of clothing, are a norm, my views changed.

I felt more comfortable in the skin I’m in. I’m guessing it is because I used to think that people are going to judge me for my fat bulges or my back acnes, but no one did. No one cared. Seeing the reactions — or lack thereof, made me want to see myself the way they see me too.

As you can see, most of my ways involve some kind of change in the mindset. It takes time. I didn’t suddenly like my body the second I applied all the things mentioned. I still don’t like the way my body looks sometimes, but I’m no more self-conscious of it anymore, and I think that’s an achievement.

I think that we should be kinder to ourselves and be more grateful for small milestones. I applaud myself even if I only like my body 0.01% more than yesterday or more than usual, and I think you should too.

Here’s one last quote for you to think about:

“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

— Louise Hay

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