Improving Body Image will Impact your Mental Health

Year of the Peaceful Woman

Technically, 2023 is The Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac, which symbolizes mercy and beauty. People born in this year are calm and peaceful.

But I’m going to give it my own spin.

This year, you deserve to show yourself mercy. You deserve to know that you are inherently beautiful regardless of your physical attributes. You deserve to feel calm and peaceful in your environment and in your skin.

Here are Three Ways to Improve Your Body Image This Year

Focus on Relationships

• Work on talking to yourself with kindness instead of self-criticism

• Stop the inner critic by journaling positive experiences

• Invest Time and Energy into your relationship with your own thoughts and body. You will come out feeling calm, peace and confident if you can build a positive relationship with yourself!

• Surrounding yourself with people who also show mercy will help you learn more compassion.

Find Joyful Movement

• Exercise is not about Weight Loss this year. Exercise is not a punishment for your “imperfect body.”

• Build a relationship with exercise that is about feeling good in your body, not weight loss!

• Find a way to move your body for joy, not weight loss. Check out Kimberly Walker for support at our Mind and Strength offices. Mind and Strength’s own therapist, Rachelle Burrup, also has a masters degree in exercise science and is passionate about helping people incorporate joyful movement into their mental health plan!

Focus on Resiliency

• Resiliency is your ability to adapt in the face of adversity. It is an essential skill for dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma and disordered eating. It is a foundational tool for mental health.

• When difficult times do arise this year focus on building self-compassion and mercy.

  • Instead of “Why me?”

    • This has been difficult. It’s ok that I’m struggling. What has helped me get through this in the past?

  • Instead of “I’m not good enough”

    • I don’t need to be perfect

    • I can get through difficult things

If you want these things for yourself, but aren’t there yet, resources are at your fingertips. The therapists at Mind & Strength Counseling of Utah are among those resources. Whether you simply follow us for advice on social media or work with us in person, we hope to help make 2023 a transformative, peaceful year for you.