5 Self-Affirmations for a Healthy Body Image

Thinking positive thoughts about your body can give you an emotional boost—but it’s not just about the feel-goods. Filling your brain with body affirmations might also move you to make different choices.

After all, research shows us that focusing on perceived physical flaws is the leading contributor to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.¹ Thinking positively about your body may help you avoid the dangers of an eating disorder and support your recovery

Today we’ll practice five daily self-affirmations for a healthy body image.

Two Quick Notes About Body Self-Affirmations

Before we get started, let’s talk about two important factors:

You might feel as though you’re fighting an uphill battle.

Negative body talk starts early, with girls as young as six worrying about weight and more than half of elementary school girls wondering if they’ll end up “too fat.” Boys struggle too. More than 30% of teenage boys and more than 50% of teenage girls attempt to control their weight by not eating, smoking cigarettes, purging or taking laxatives.¹

So, if these things ring true for you—if you began criticizing your body at an early age—the idea of looking in the mirror and saying something nice might seem difficult or even impossible. Give yourself time. A daily affirmation said again and again, over the course of weeks or months, will make a difference.

You can’t lie to yourself.

But your brain may play tricks on you. Maybe you’re thinking, “Telling myself I look good isn’t going to change a thing. I know the truth about myself.” And while we’d have to agree with you in theory, we’re going to disagree. Here’s why:

The sincerity of self-affirmations is hugely important. You’ve got to mean what you say. At the same time, our minds play tricks on us. Perhaps you’ve conditioned yourself to see your perceived flaws and completely overlook the positive things your body does.

So, when you’re ready to give body self-affirmations a try, remember to give yourself time and tell yourself the truth.

5 Daily Affirmations for a Positive Body Image

These affirmations will seem deceptively simple at first. But there’s power in simplicity. Fill in the blanks with statements that are true for you. And allow that truth to resonate in your heart and mind—and yes, in your body—as you work toward a healthier body image.

I am alive! I have lungs that breathe, a heart that beats and a body that takes me places.

Here we remember that our bodies are a gift—not a burden.

My body is strong.

It allows me to _____________ (haul groceries, do my job, carry my children.).

My body makes life fun.

With it I can _____________ (run, hike, play, climb, laugh).

I am becoming the best version of myself.

Even when progress seems slow or small, every day you are learning and growing.

I will be kind to my body today.  

Try stating just one of the above affirmations a day and add on more as you grow in confidence. If you continue to talk to yourself in this way, with time and in truth, you’ll gain a more positive body image and make healthier choices along the way. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, Magnolia Creek can help. Connect with us at 205-235-6989 or with our contact form.

Resources

1. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). “Body image & Eating Disorders.”