You Can't Find Joy
Our sense of how we look can influence a lot more than how we feel when we look in the mirror. Negative feelings about our size or shape can seep into all areas of our lives, in ways that can hold us back.
A negative body image can keep us from finding joy in both the small and big things. Instead of appreciating the good, our brain goes straight to where (we think!) things are bad.
You Can't Meet Goals
A negative body image can also keep you from meeting your goals. Instead of focusing on developing new skills, networking with influential people or diving into a dream side project, we tell ourselves we have to focus on getting into our skinny jeans first.
You Fear Attention
A negative body image can also keep us from seeking and accepting attention. Instead of thinking we're fun to be with, have important ideas or something to contribute, we work hard to keep a low profile out of fear that others will look at us. All of which can keep you from advancing in your career, your relationships and your life.
You Fear Judgment
If you're always thinking negative things about your body, you're also likely thinking that everyone else is too—specifically, about you. Fear of judgment keeps you from speaking your mind, putting your best ideas out there or trying something new, all of which diminishes your ability to meet goals or to even have goals in the first place.
You Don't Take Risks
If your body image is a negative one, it can also keep you from taking risks. Those leaps of faith are how we discover new interests and abilities, follow our dreams and develop full and satisfying lives.
You Pass Up Good Food
Look, it's fine—even healthy—to watch what you eat. But your negative body image can keep you from food that you truly enjoy. You may also pass up chances to hang out with great people if you don't want to go out to dinner, get drinks or you want to avoid other eating situations. You never know who you'll meet.
You Don't Wear What You Want
Your negative body image will keep you out of clothes that you love, which may keep you from fully expressing who you are. Forget about body-shape categories or skipping over prints and stripes for fear of breaking the rules.
You Put Things Off
We all deserve to live the happy lives that we want, but too many of us don't even try because of how we feel about our bodies. A negative body image can keep you from creating the kind of space you want to live in, filled with the kind of friends you want to have, doing the things you want to do. If not now, when?
You Push Away Love
Intimacy is a deep and wonderful thing, but if your image of yourself is negative, it might keep you from experiencing it. Pushing away love for fear of sharing yourself with others is another way your negative body image is keeping you from fulfillment.
You Give Others Negative Ideas
Negative feelings are contagious, and your negative thoughts about your body are seeping into the minds of others. It's one thing to hold yourself back, but it's another thing to give others a reason to see you as less than you truly are. This has implications at work and in your relationships.
You Talk Yourself Out of Things
You'd love to go to yoga. Or run a half marathon. Or take a cooking class. But you think your body will somehow betray you or be the focus of what others are thinking about. So, instead, you pass up the benefits of guided meditation or getting off the couch and enjoying a new skill.
You Diminish Your Successes
You got the promotion! You got accepted to graduate school! You nailed the presentation! And yet all you think about is how you felt fat in your suit or worry that you'll be the biggest person in the classroom and that everyone was focused on your muffin top. With thoughts like that, how do you even take the next step? It's wasted energy and emotion that could be used to go further, achieve more and dream bigger.
You Feel Unlovable
You don't like yourself and, somewhere deep inside, you're astounded (and doubtful) that others love you, too. It's difficult to get a relationship off the ground—or off to next steps—if you think you don't deserve the love and attention of someone else.
You Don't Show Love
Not loving yourself keeps you from healthily expressing love to others. Sure, you can go through the motions, you can say all the right things. But a person knows, a partner knows.
