One of the best things anyone can do to make themselves happy is to be proud of themselves in every single way, that is, proud of their achievements, qualifications, and the like, including their body status. We've seen through the years how a lot of people became depressed due to what people say about them, how they look, and the like, and the end results of such always take a toll on their mental health that can even lead to grave repercussions for that person or people around them. I, for one, have on several occasions been body shamed by those people I know and a total stranger, and in this article I'll be telling you how I react to them and my take on my body status.
As humans we must learn how to shut our ears to negative things being said by others about our body, and we must as well learn to be proud of how we look. Being pushed into depression or delving into something irrational because of what people say about our body will only affect us mentally and might push us to do things that are not good for our body if we are not careful. Although it's worth noting that not everyone who has something negative to say about our body are those who hate us; some people are saying it from the place of love, and when they interact with you, you yourself can decipher it's coming from the place of love.
While I understand that there are times I need to hit the gym, that doesn't mean I'm not proud of my body; in fact, it's worth noting that I love my height, I love my body shape, stature, and weight, and that's what usually gives me an edge to not be pushed into depression when someone says something negative about how I look. I remember some years ago when I was travelling and another passenger refused me entry because, according to her, I'm too fat. Rather than stay to trade words with her, I simply turned and joined the next bus for my own health and mental health.
I agree with the fact that body positivity can become toxic, and that's because I think when an individual begins to care less about what their body is saying to the point where it's affecting their health and they're not taking proactive steps to curb it, then it's definitely becoming toxic, and that's why we can't, because we're proud of our body, neglect what our body needs in movement, exercise, and the like.
Also, it's also worth noting that the image we have of our body can go on to pose danger to either ourselves or those around us. Take, for instance, someone who is positive about their body and gains weight; it'll in the end pose harm to their health, well-being, and ability to move around swiftly. Also, it can bring harm to others in situations whereby someone gains their body stature via going to the gym regularly, and because someone else around you admires it, they can, because of their desire to have your type of body, undergo different procedures, including surgery, which can be really dangerous or even claim their life.
Overall, I think we all should learn to be proud of our bodies and not let the words of others push us into what we'll live to regret, but then, regardless of how positive we are about our bodies, it shouldn't be at the expense of our health or well-being.
All photos used in this article are mine.