Why Are You Not Satisfied With Your Body?

Most people have been dissatisfied with their bodies at some point in their lives. You probably looked at your reflection in the mirror and thought, “I don’t like what I see” . Or you tried on clothes in a fashion store and felt completely uncomfortable with your body. It is a widespread desire of many people to change certain parts of the body or to have more in some places and less in other places. But why are you actually not satisfied with your body ?

However, dissatisfaction with one’s own body goes far beyond the purely physical. Many people believe that their worth and success depends on what they look like. When you feel that you are not meeting the usual standards of beauty, you feel like a failure, you feel inadequate and inferior.

Why are you not satisfied with your body?

External influences and causes

Culture and society have a strong influence on a person’s self-image. Although standards of beauty have changed over the years, ideas about what is acceptable and what is desirable have always been very limited.

Today the ideal is unrealistic and almost unattainable for both women and men.

In view of the great diversity of human bodies in the world, these almost dogmatic requirements actually make no sense at all. Trying to meet the very limited standards of what is considered beautiful can cause great psychological damage to those who do not fit within this pre-established grid. This can be proven in practically every store by the small selection of available sizes.

As a result, many people grow up rejecting their own bodies, feeling inadequate and constantly reproaching themselves for not meeting these unrealistic standards. Social pressures can also be significant and very destructive. Because it leads to children starting at a young age to reject everything that is different.

Inner reasons why you are not satisfied with your body

So far we have talked about the standards that are imposed on people from the outside. However, there are other aspects of this problem, and they have to do with your personality and attitude. Certain behaviors and ideas can lead to a negative self-image.

• Inappropriate comparisons. It is undisputed that certain ideals of beauty exist. But still, it’s up to you to understand that they are unrealistic and there is no reason to measure yourself against them. If you constantly compare yourself to celebrities or even other people in your life, sooner or later you will feel bad. Therefore, instead, you should try to recognize and appreciate the incredible diversity of human bodies and shapes.

• Rigid or dichotomous thinking. This means that there are only ever two possibilities that contradict each other. For example, if you have something called a “negative” trait, you automatically fall into the “ugly” category. If you only focus on the part of your body that you don’t like, you will inevitably be dissatisfied with your body and the way you look.
• Wrong assumptions. If you don’t like the way you look, you automatically assume that other people don’t either. What’s worse, you think that just because you don’t live up to traditional ideals of beauty you are not worth loving and paying attention to. In addition, you may even believe that you do not have the “right” to wear certain types of clothing or to engage in certain activities. A negative body image can lead to feelings of failure on a social and emotional level.

What can you do if you are not satisfied with your body?

There are two important things to focus on. First of all, you should work on changing the beliefs and attitudes that make you feel bad. Open your mind and think about your physical qualities. In addition, you should try to consider your worth as a person regardless of your external appearance.

The second aspect that you should work on is to love and accept your body for exactly what it is. Appreciate all the things your body allows you to do. Remember, your wonderful body allows you to breathe, laugh, run, and hug your loved ones. Make peace with your reflection in the mirror and give yourself the love and respect you deserve. It doesn’t matter what you look like.

If you want to take care of your body and appearance in a healthy way, you have to start with unconditional acceptance. If you do, you will be exercising and eating healthily for all the right reasons. You will take care of yourself because you love your body, not because you hate it.