The following statistics are quite mind blowing...
There are 9 facts about self-image from 'The World Counts' website:
One study conducted a test on women. 3 out of 4 said that they were overweight. Only 1 out of 4 really was.
After viewing images of fashion models, 7 out of 10 women felt more depressed and angrier than before.
Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder, has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses.
In advertising, the body type of models which is portrayed as ideal, is naturally possessed by only 5% of American women.
Only 1 out of 10 high school students are overweight, but 9 out of 10 are already on a type of diet.
Teenagers who engage in unprotected sex which results in unwanted pregnancy, often have poor self-images.
There are fewer cases of men with eating disorders because of the perception that they are women’s diseases.
Today’s media greatly influence the self-image of teenagers. They are told that their value is related to how thin or muscular they are.
In a study on Self-image Maintenance and Discriminatory Behaviour, evidence showed that prejudice develops from a person’s need to justify a threatened perception of them self (The World Counts, n.d.).
WOW.
The first time I read those statistics, it landed on me... negative body image affects our society more than I had realised before.
I speak to personal training clients and mindset coaching clients on a daily basis, and often conversations happen around negative self talk, self sabotage and comparison. Re-educating people on self love and self care are common coaching pathways.
So what are some simple steps you could take to improve your self image now?
Firstly, try a few of these:
List 10 Things You Love About Yourself
List 10 Skills You Possess
List 5 Achievements of Which You Are Proud
List 3 Occasions Where You Overcame Adversity
List 5 People Who Have Helped You
List 5 People Who You Have Helped
List 50 Things You Appreciate About Your Life
Secondly, start to keep a record of the negative self talk that goes through your mind.
Thirdly, reframe the comment negative statements into empowering self talk. Continuously, keep catching negative thoughts (when they arise) and turn the thought into an empowering statement.
Often, there are underlying traumas, misbeliefs, or irrational thinking patterns that is affecting someone's self image. Working with a mindset coach or therapist will help you overcome these thoughts and feelings much faster, and will allow you to get to the root cause much faster.
If you would like some assistance with improving your mindset, please send me a message as I do offer mindset coaching (online and in-gym), or if you'd like to develop a stronger mindset and gain more self awareness, purchase the "Unlock Your Mind, Free Your Potential" Mindset Journal here: www.freedomlifestyle.fitness/mindset
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