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Body Positivity Is Not a “Tired” Concept
Elyse Jost
There is a tiny dark cloud that trails behind me as I walk. Some days it is smaller than others and some days I am consumed by its rain and thunder. The cloud developed slowly over time, hitting especially hard when I entered college. Almost everyone I know and love has an identical gray cumulonimbus, trailing behind like a shadow. These clouds are cultivated from a young age and grow as we subconsciously swallow advertisements, backhanded compliments, derogatory comments from friends and family. This cloud, negative body image, affects our daily lives more than we may realize.
Social media is also constantly cranking out dichotomious messages about body image:
“Love your body!”, “Get thin fast!”, “EveryBODY is beautiful!”, “Try one of these great workouts to shed the pounds!”
Which one is it? Am I supposed to feel indifferent about my body as I’m frantically sprinting on the treadmill to reach my ideal weight? Or am I supposed to make outwardly critical comments about myself, when in reality I am truly accepting of the way I look and move?
I have been involved in the world of dance for roughly 17 years. I have seen males and females become ill, both mentally and physically because of the pressures of their craft to strive for external perfection. I have seen people who constantly put themselves down about the way they look and stress about how they are expected to dress, how it can affect their jobs and other consequences of weighing a certain amount or having a specific body shape.
I am going to keep making and posting and sharing body-positive images, videos and stories until the day arrives that every child is born with no expectation for how they should look later on. If even only one person sees that story or video and can smile and hold the fleeting idea that they are enough as they are, that they should be working towards being internally healthy and that they are the only person who has a relevant opinion about the shape and size of their body, those messages are worth sharing.
If we only think about issues in an individual sense, those who are lucky enough to feel comfortable in their own skin have no way to share their happiness and spread their own, organic message about how to break out of the constructs of societally-defined paradigms of beauty, and further, of worth. If you don’t like or “need” these videos, don’t watch them. But if you’re happy with yourself and don’t feel the urge to spread that joy and that pure mindset, then you’re doing a disservice to everyone. Every positive message is important in order to break a cycle of subliminal messages of unattainable standards of beauty.
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Healthy is the Real Beautiful
Emma Tanner
With the rise of social media and its effect on global connections, the public has begun to retaliate more fiercely against the media’s idea that people, and women in particular, should look a certain way if they want to be considered beautiful. The perception that being thin is the only acceptable form of female beauty has led to countless women feeling unattractive and undesirable, which can lead to mental illness, eating disorders and self- and peer-ridicule. But as dangerous as these ideas and actions are, isn’t it equally risky to preach extreme body acceptance?
Obesity is considered a serious and growing epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over one-third of American adults are now obese. The Food Research and Action Center has reported that 17 percent of children, between the age of two and 19, are obese in America. The crisis has led to a drastic rise in diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, cancer, bone and joint issues and more. It’s only becoming more common and accepted as people celebrate the consequences of destructive eating and lifestyle habits.
To really love yourself is to take care of yourself: exercise, eat healthily and not excessively, sleep as much as your body needs, get outside every day – but do it for YOU. Every aspect of your life can be enhanced by focusing on being healthy rather than thin or accepting unhealthy habits that will inevitably raise your BMI. It is often the case that mental wellness follows physical wellness, and in taking care of your body your mental perceptions will alter as well. You’ll have more energy to be productive and get more accomplished, and day-to-day tasks won’t feel as burdensome. How can you not easily accept your body as a vehicle that leads to those levels of fulfillment and happiness?
Now, understand that everyone’s personal versions of “healthy” are different. Part of living a mentally sound life is ignoring what a superficial society generalizes as “beautiful” and “healthy.” It’s important to listen to your own body and learn what ultimately works and is healthiest for you. Some foods affect people differently than others. Some people need that extra hour of sleep. Some metabolisms aren’t as active and may require more scheduled cardio. That’s all okay. But pay attention to yourself as an individual.
The key is balance and forming good habits that work for you. Don’t let the media mold your perceptions, whether they come from People Magazine, or a more “average” American who may very well be next on the wait list for a heart attack due to reckless, long-term dietary habits, but who continues to post about self-acceptance. Accepting a life of convenient fast-food and minimal physical exertion is just as bad.
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