5 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR BODY SHAMING MINDSET

It’s Friday, and you’re excited for the weekend until your girls suggest a beach day. You dread beach days because you hate the veins, cellulite and stretch marks on your thighs. Of course, you attend but endure the beach in uncomfortable heat and insecurity.

You dread being asked to be in a wedding, as all bridesmaids dresses make your arms look flabby. Tank weather always means sweater weather.

The thought of putting your picture on a dating app gives you an anxiety attack. “Why would anyone want to date me? I know I have a great personality, but the first thing he/she will see are my chicken legs or double chin?”

These are the stories that we tell ourselves that paralyze us from being the best version of ourselves.  Working as a stylist, I have seen a lot of gorgeous celebrities struggle with these same issues. I struggle with it as I don’t love my stomach and have some stretch marks. I’ve compared myself to other bloggers and friends and have to silence the beast in my mind, and it has taken me years of self-work and practice to get over this hump.

Being an image maker, I can help a client dress to present the most stylish version of themselves, but if there isn’t a strong sense of confidence behind the clothing then they are wearing a costume! Confidence is your greatest foundation! To just embrace ourselves we have to change our body-shaming mindset and here are five tips to implement today.

1. BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE MANTRA

Before you reach for your cell phone to check how many likes you received on your last post, you should begin your day with a positive mantra. Start your day by saying something nice. Do this when you aren’t feeling your best or when you’re tired, bloated or drained.  I like to leave post-it notes around my house with positive mantras of “You are beautiful.”
“Be thankful for your body” “Love your flaws as other wish they could have what you have.” That warm feeling of love from others should start with yourself. Complimenting yourself first will change your outlook throughout the day.  You will feel more confident in yourself, and with your body. Moreover, make sure to say it every day because although you might not truly feel it every day, the repetition will help ingrain in your brain the idea that you are truly beautiful in every sense of the word.

2. CHANGE YOUR INNER MONOLOGUE 

Try and tap into your inner monologue and become aware of how you are speaking to yourself.  Negative words permeate your aura and do permanent damage. If you talk to yourself in a toxic way and make yourself feel horrible about your body, skipping a workout or overeating it damages your cells and creates stress. Stress creates dis-ease which creates disease. A good way to change your inner monologue is to praise yourself for positive accomplishments.  Made it to a workout? Tell yourself you did a good job! Found a killer outfit for an upcoming date? Tell yourself you’re F*cking gorgeous! Doing this simple thing will help you to start feeling good about yourself and will likely make you feel more confident in your skin!

3. MAKE LISTS OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU

I truly believe you have to be the person you want to be with. We have all made a list of the characteristics we want in our partners, so try making a list of both physical and non-physical traits and gush about you! At first it may feel difficult to list the characteristics that you like about yourself but just list a few. Eventually, you will be able to write novels about all your wonderful traits. You may even want to change a few things.  For example, you might start off hating a certain trait about yourself and as you start to think more positively about yourself and your body, you may end up loving that particular trait. Go back to this list every so often and be your own cheerleader!

4. SPEAK POSITIVELY ABOUT OTHERS

Follow The Golden Rule: Speak about other people the way you would want them to talk about you. In the days of social media and gossip this rings true more than ever. We have to be conscious about being judgmental and negative as the energy we put out travels back to us.  Jealousy, insecurity and distrust can leave us feeling the need to be trolls within our groups, but we must lift each other up! We are who we hang out with and I choose only to surround myself with positivity. Everyone has their struggle and spreading love and positivity is the only way to achieve blissful living.

5. USE YOUR INSECURITY AS YOUR POWER

As I mentioned, as a society we are sometimes conditioned to talk about our bodies in a negative way. This is because of how the media tends to portray the unattainable assets of the “perfect woman.” In my style workshops I teach my women that we have to fight this type of shaming and embrace our flaws. We can fight body shaming and stand up to bullies by using our insecurities as power. Imagine if we were no longer fearful of our arm flab, stomach stretch mark, thick thighs or skinny ankles. What power would body shamers have over us? NOTHING! Taking the power away turns that negative into a positive because it no longer gives haters the energy to thrive. We are a work in progress. We are what we are.  We must embrace it and strive to be better each day. The confidence is key, and these change will transform your life.

Trust me these five steps are easier to type than to implement. I struggle myself, and that’s the beauty of the work. The most important thing is that I’m working towards fighting the tough fight and self-love. Let me know your thoughts about how you are fighting body shaming in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to my youtube channel!

signature-melissa-chataigne

Tanks: Free People | Jacket: Blank NYC | Jeans: Frame Denim | Belt: Gucci | Heels: Manolo Blahnik (sold out- similar)| Bag: Chloe Faye

13 Comments

  1. CJ
    April 20, 2017 / 2:43 am

    Great tips! I used to be that girl who hated beach day. It wasn’t until here recently where I will lay out on the beach and not
    even think about grabbing my cover up. At 41 years of age I fight body shaming with self love as you described. I love every part of me , flaws and all.

    CJ

  2. Lisa
    April 20, 2017 / 10:45 am

    “Use your insecurity as your power” wow love this advice. Thanks for sharing your heart.

    • Melissa
      April 20, 2017 / 1:58 pm

      I’m glad you like this truth bomb. Please come back again. Stay gorgeous! xo

  3. April 20, 2017 / 10:55 am

    Great post!!!! This is my exact feeling now as I’ve gained some extra weight after a medical procedure and everybody else keeps pointing it out. My boss even suggested ‘I lose the weight’, her exact words. You would think I’m overweight but I’m actually 157 pounds, coming from 140 and I’m 5ft 3in, so now I hide behind long sleeves as I’m embarrassed by my arm flabs. In my eyes, I don’t see the extra weight and my fiance makes me feel really sexy although my jeans don’t fit anymore but with the constant acknowledgment of my gains, chips away at my self esteem. I will definitely implement these tips in my daily life. Thank you

    • Melissa
      April 20, 2017 / 1:58 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed! I’m so sorry you are going through this. Shame on your boss for commenting! That is incredibly unprofessional, but I’m glad you have a loving partner! Weight is just weight.It ebbs and flows. You are beautiful, and your heart is what makes you shine. Focus on the how you feel and do things that bring you joy, nourish yourself with the right food and work in a healthy environment that allows you to be the best version of yourself and the healthiest and most beautiful version of you will shine. All my love and support to you! xx

  4. April 20, 2017 / 11:04 am

    Great tips. I really need to take some of these onboard. Sometimes I am so rushed in the mornings. x

    • Melissa
      April 20, 2017 / 1:55 pm

      Yes, maybe even saying your mantra in the car or in the shower? Baby steps…

  5. April 20, 2017 / 11:07 am

    I’m loving all the body positivity I’m seeing lately!! I actually just did a post about this on my blog last week and it’s really tough to stop yourself from putting yourself down. It takes a lot of change and it definitely starts with us ❤ You look amazing by the way 😊

    • Melissa
      April 20, 2017 / 1:54 pm

      Oh I have to check it out! I think we are all so sick of the bullshit and the negative. I’m tired of seeing my styling clients struggle and women in my workshops cry. As bloggers, stylist and leaders we have to use our voice to implement change. Thanks for the compliment. xx

  6. April 20, 2017 / 12:24 pm

    You have great style! I appreciate these tips a lot – we always are so hard on ourselves. Thanks for reminding us of ways to not be 🙂

    • Melissa
      April 20, 2017 / 1:51 pm

      Awww thanks for the compliment. We are! It’s so insane. I hope you can implement and let me know how it goes. Thanks for visiting. Hope you may subscribe. xx

  7. April 21, 2017 / 3:29 am

    I love that idea of taking power away from the haters. It’s not always easy to do, but sometimes we can fake it til we make it.

    • Melissa
      April 25, 2017 / 7:18 am

      I’m really glad you liked it. It is so hard, but once you own it releasing the pain will set you free! I just lead a style and confidence workshop this weekend and my ladies started to get it. Thank you so for following. Come back again!!!

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