I'm fat. I'm skinny. I would like to be taller, shorter, have curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, more developed muscles, longer legs... Are any of these statements familiar to you? Are you used to making yourself less? In such a case, you are not alone. If you are a teenager, your body is undergoing a multitude of changes. And, as your body changes, so does your self-image (the image you have of yourself). Many people find it difficult to get used to these changes, and this can affect their self-esteem. In some cases it also happens to adults who are dissatisfied with their body image, which affects their self-esteem.
WHY ARE SELF-ESTEEM AND BODY IMAGE IMPORTANT?
Self-esteem refers to the extent to which we accept and value ourselves and how proud we are of ourselves. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about ourselves can influence how we act. A person with high self-esteem will make friends more easily, control her behavior better, and enjoy life more.
Body image refers to how a person feels about their physical appearance. For many people, especially during early adolescence, body image is closely related to self-esteem. This is because, as they grow from children to adults, adolescents are much more concerned with how others see them.
WHAT INFLUENCES A PERSON'S SELF-ESTEEM?
Puberty: Some people have self-esteem issues early in puberty because their bodies go through so many changes. Those changes, combined with the natural desire to be accepted, make it tempting for us to compare ourselves with others. We can compare ourselves with the people around us or with actors and celebrities that we see on television, movies or magazines. But it doesn't make much sense to compare yourself with other people because the changes that puberty entails are different in each person and the same adults have different bodies. Some people start developing early, while others start late. Some temporarily develop a layer of fat to prepare for the growth spurt, others gain weight permanently, and still others remain skinny no matter how much they eat. It all depends on how the genes have programmed your body. The changes that accompany puberty can affect the way girls and boys feel about themselves. Some girls may be uncomfortable with or ashamed of their developing bodies. Others would like to develop faster. Girls may feel pressured to lose weight while guys may feel they are not big enough or muscular enough.
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
However, the normal development process is not the only thing that affects self-esteem. There are a host of other factors (such as media images of skinny girls and muscular guys) that can impact a person's body image. Family life can also influence self-esteem. Some parents spend more time criticizing their children and their physical appearance than praising them. Such criticism can reduce a person's ability to develop high self-esteem. People can also be teased and have negative comments about their appearance from their classmates. Sometimes the origin of these types of comments lies in racial and ethnic prejudice. Although these comments are usually due to the ignorance of those who make them, they can sometimes have a negative impact on the body image and self-esteem of those who receive them.
HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM
If you have a positive body image of yourself, you will probably accept and like yourself just the way you are. This healthy attitude will allow you to explore other aspects of growing up, such as making friends, becoming more independent from your parents, and setting yourself new challenges, both physically and mentally. And the fact of developing those facets of yourself will help you raise your self-esteem even more. A positive and optimistic attitude can help people develop high self-esteem. For example, telling you: Well, I'm human, instead of, Wow! What a mess I'm made of, when you make a mistake. Or not blaming others when things don't go your way. Knowing what makes you happy and how you can achieve your goals can help you feel capable and strong and feel in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle (such as exercising and eating well) are a perfect combination to develop high self-esteem.
TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY IMAGE
Some people believe that they need to change their physical appearance or the way they behave in order to feel good about themselves. But in fact, all you need to do is change the way you perceive your body and what you think about yourself. The first thing you have to do is recognize that your body is yours, regardless of its shape, size or color. If you're really worried about your weight or height, see your doctor to see if everything's okay. But what your body looks like is none of your business—at the end of the day, you're the one who has to be happy with yourself. Second, identify which elements of your physical appearance you can realistically change and which you cannot. Everyone (even the most seemingly perfect celebrity) has things they don't like about themselves that they can't change and need to accept—like their height or shoe size.
If there are aspects of your body that you want and can change (like how fit you are), then do so by setting goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get in shape, design a program to exercise daily and eat nutritious food. Then track your progress as you get closer to the goal.
POSING PERSONAL CHALLENGES IS A GREAT WAY TO BOOST YOUR SELF-ESTEEM!
If you find yourself making negative comments about yourself, force yourself to stop. Try to raise your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day. Every day before going to bed, think of three things that made you enjoy that day. It can be anything from feeling the sun's rays on your face to listening to your favorite band or hearing someone laugh when you tell them a joke. By focusing on the good things you do and the positive aspects of your life, you can change the way you feel about yourself for the better.
WHERE CAN I ASK FOR HELP?
Sometimes low self-esteem and negative body image issues can't be overcome without help. A few teens become depressed, lose interest in social activities and relationships—or even self-harm or turn to alcohol or drug use. If you feel this way, it may help to talk to a parent, a coach or coach, a priest or religious leader, the psychologist at your school, a therapist or another adult with whom you have a friendly relationship. An adult you trust—a person who supports you and doesn't put you down—can help you look at your body objectively and give you positive feedback about your body and your skills and abilities. If you don't know anyone who could help you, call the Employee Assistance Program on 900 70 11 24. If you feel that your body image and self-esteem are having a negative impact on your life, the most important thing you can do is ask for help
PAE PROGRAM
CONFIDENTIAL AND FREE