Unmasking Ourselves: The Power of Self-Acceptance

In our image-obsessed culture, it’s easy to feel like we need to hide behind a mask. This mask can take many forms, but often it’s a carefully constructed persona that we present to the world, designed to hide our insecurities and imperfections. When it comes to our bodies, this masking can take many forms, one is a mental health condition called body dysmorphic disorder where we become fixated on perceived flaws in our appearance. Hiding under baggy clothes, hiding from photos, hiding away from social activities, can all be ways we hide our bodies.  

A previous blog I wrote called “Behind the Mask“ explores the concept of hiding my emotions behind a ‘mask’. In it I described my own experiences of bottling up my feelings for years, and the negative impact it had on my mental health. This idea of masking isn’t just about hiding emotions; it can also be about hiding your body.

We spend so much time comparing ourselves to unrealistic versions of ourselves we have in our heads or social media content that it’s easy to develop a distorted view of what we see in the mirror. We start to see flaws everywhere, and we feel like we need to hide those flaws from the world.

But here’s the truth: we all have flaws. And that’s okay. Our bodies are amazing machines that allow us to experience the world around us. They come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re all worthy of love and acceptance.

When you remove the mask it can unveil your true and authentic self. But, here is what’s written in the small print that you may overlook. Removing the mask can also unveil parts of you that you don’t like. That’s also ok. Commit to improving parts of you that you want to improve. But, do it for YOU, and only YOU.

Here are some tips to start accepting yourself and move beyond being over critical of your body:

1. Challenge your inner critic. That voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough is often wrong. When you start to hear those negative thoughts, challenge them. Ask yourself if they’re realistic, and if they’re helpful.
2. Focus on what your body can do, not how it looks. Your body is strong and capable. Think about all the things your body allows you to do: run, jump, dance, hug the people you love. Be grateful for your body’s strength and resilience.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. The people you spend time with can have a big impact on how you see yourself. Choose to spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself, and who appreciate you for who you are, not what you look like.
4. Unfollow social media accounts that make you feel bad. Social media can be a great tool for connection, but it can also be a breeding ground for insecurity. Social media can have a negative impact on our body image and it can also promote unrealistic beauty standards. If you find yourself following accounts that make you feel bad about yourself, unfollow them. Fill your feed with people who promote body positivity and self-love.
5. Consider therapy. If you’re struggling with body dysmorphia, therapy can be a helpful tool. A therapist can help you develop more self-love and a better positive body image and cope with negative thoughts and feelings.

Accepting yourself is a journey, not a destination. There will be good days and bad days. But at least it’s a start to developing a more positive relationship with your body and embracing your true self.

Here are some additional thoughts on body positivity for men specifically:

• Society often tells men that they need to be strong and emotionless. This is simply not true. Men are allowed to have emotions, and they are allowed to care about their appearance.
• There is a growing community of men who are challenging traditional ideas of masculinity. These men are embracing body positivity and self-care. So remember you are not alone.
• If you’re a man who is struggling with body dysmorphia, there is help. There are many resources available to you. Bodywhys has some great information on their website.

Remember, you are worthy of love and acceptance, just the way you are. Don’t let your inner critic hold you back from living your best life.

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