Body Positivity for People of all Identities and Abilities
Body Positivity for People of all Identities and Abilities
Body positivity for all people is our goal!
What is body positivity, you may ask?
Body positivity is a view of the body that is focused on the strengths and characteristics of our bodies, while avoiding discussions of “fat” or “skinny” and shaming of other bodies.
One of the main complaints in sexual satisfaction is that individuals, of all identities and abilities, discuss that they “hate their body.”
If you hate your body, it is going to be challenging to be body positive, AND it is may have a strong correlation between experiencing difficulty in achieving pleasurable sex.
Why It’s Easy to Hate Your Body!
Body Positivity can be a challenge for all, especially since we are conditioned to look for the negative instead of the positive.
Although looking for the negative is a survival mechanism that keeps us safe and alive, it often deprives us of the richer feelings of life that positivity brings.
Whether you know it or not, messages about how to design your relationships and your sexual satisfaction, who we ought to be, and what we ought to look like are culturally conditioned into us.
If you think about your upbringing… think about how everything you have learned has been filtered to you through your family, schools, media, or other communities you are a part of.
When I really think about it, it is no wonder hate is easier than love.
However, let’s not accept this! Let’s strive for MORE BODY POSITIVITY!
Since I was 19 years old, I began my journey of radical body positivity.
Here are some of the things I have learned to break through old thought patterns and start with body positivity for people of ALL Identities and Abilities.
Ways to Love Your Body!
1. Fall in love with your hygiene
Hygiene is something we “have” to do, and it is something that we can gain satisfaction from.
Brushing your teeth and flossing daily can significantly improve how you feel about yourself. When you love your smile, it shows!
Have gatherings with some friends where you do face masks, file and paint nails, and agree to give each other hand or shoulder massages.
Get your nails done. Most nail salons in my area have seating to fit all body sizes. Similarly, some have portable water basins, stations, and dryers which are set up for wheelchair accessibility.
Showers and bathing can transform from MUST DO to PLEASURE-CENTERED. If you can, make more time in your schedule by taking away a TV show and adding a candle and some music in the bathroom.
For those who have hair – get a shampoo and conditioner you LOVE. It will be icing on the cake of how you feel about yourself, regardless of your identity or your abilities.
2. Tell yourself in the MIRROR daily “I love you and your body, ________.” (Add your name!)
It doesn’t matter how silly it seems. This is important. Self-love MATTERS. Think about all the times you tell yourself, silently, mean things.
You have to start combatting some of those thoughts and REPLACING that negative, mean comment with a more positive belief about yourself.
3. Begin practicing mind-body integrations!
Many of us weren’t modeled self-love, due to generations of trauma that our families carried before us.
Now that we have the luxuries of the modern world, we have not had the mentors to teach us about integration of mind, body, and emotions.
We all know it is important and have heard about mind-body connection before… have you practiced it though?
If you aren’t actively integrating this, you are missing out on a huge aspect of loving yourself.
Whether it be EMDR therapy, yoga, meditation, or sound baths (especially for those who have limited movement), try to find some way connect your mind with your body.
4. Hydration!
A personal favorite of mine. Drink water! Take your body weight (in pounds) and divide it by 2. This is your suggested daily water intake!
When you are hydrated, your body functions better. Please remember to consult with a doctor!
5. Visit an APRN!
If you are blessed with health insurance, visit an advanced practice registered nurse, who has the ability and experience to provide psychiatric medications.
If you don’t love your body, talking with someone in the medical field is important. They have answers on the body that a mental health professional would not.
What are your favorite techniques for body positivity?
If you can’t begin to fathom any of these options, please see a body-positive mental health professional or clinician.
You can get more free content on relationship and sex tips by checking out my Youtube Channel – The Sex Healer.
If you know someone that would benefit from this information, feel free to share it.
Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a relationship coaching and sex therapy practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible, multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systemically-trained and licensed therapists!
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