We're all familiar with the Body Positivity Movement - it's the promotion of positive vibes no matter the size, shape, skin tone, physical abilities, gender of the person in question. Clearly a wonderful concept and something we all want to get on board with. But something I've recently been reading about is the Body Neutrality Movement - and I found it fascinating and relatable. Embracing a stance of being neutral about our bodies can be something which is more achievable and realistic for us - and can help us on our way to self-acceptance. Let me explain....
So what is it?
Body neutrality was made popular by a body coach Anne Poirier in 2015. The idea being the body's function is more important than its appearance - and you don't have to love it or hate it, you can feel neutral towards it. Body neutrality is the understanding there are days when we're not so fond of what we see in the mirror - and that's ok. It's having a neutral stance toward your body both emotionally and physically. You are not supporting the hatred towards your body (for example, that negative narrative we hear in our heads) but similarly you are not expending energy or time on "loving" your body either. You are at peace with your body.
Personally body neutrality seems something which is easier to be aligned with on the whole. I have cellulite and I've had stretch marks on my legs since puberty - I don't love either and never will - however I think I am neutral towards both. They are what they are, I can't change them and I guess I would say I'm at peace with them. I'm absolutely not going to waste time, energy or money on trying to change their appearance now. My mantra has always been "life is too short" and frankly, life is too short to waste my efforts on what would be a futile exercise!
A few ways to embrace body neutrality:
Challenge negative thoughts
When you hear that negative voice in your head, try to stop it in its tracks. Ask yourself why you feel this way and are these thoughts based on unrealistic expectations? A client recently told me of her trick when negative thoughts creep in which I thought was brilliant. She asks herself if she would speak like that to her best friend. Inevitably the answer is no, she would not speak so unkindly to her best friend so she stops speaking in this way to herself.
Focus on functionality
I know this sounds cheesy - but celebrate what your body can do. Its flexibility, strength and resilience be that through exercise, hobbies or daily tasks. Due to my other job as a radiographer I often see people who are in dire straits with their health and so I really see how important it is to celebrate the small, everyday wins of what our bodies can do. Simply being able to go for a lovely walk with friends is something we can be grateful for and we should proud that our body has this ability.
Practice self-compassion
This can also go back to the "best friend" trick I mentioned earlier. Speak to yourself as you would a friend. Be kind to yourself and treat yourself with compassion on those days when you're feeling insecure about your body. Understand everyone has days like that, just try not to dwell on the feeling or negative thoughts.
Show off your best bits
Shift the focus from covering up the parts you don't like, to showing off what you do like. As I've said before on a similar topic, this doesn't have to be an obvious body part like your arms or legs. I had a client previously who loved her wrists, so I suggested she wear bracelets to highlight this area. She loved this approach and enjoyed showing off her wrists and this became her focus. This could be your ankles, ears, neck, anywhere - think about how you could draw attention to that area and give yourself a boost of confidence.
In a world where societal standards still often dictate our perception of beauty and worth, the concept of body neutrality offers a refreshing perspective. As women, we are bombarded with messages about how our bodies should look, what size we should be, and what flaws we should strive to fix. However, body neutrality encourages us to shift our focus away from appearance and towards how our bodies feel and what they can do. It's about accepting and appreciating our bodies for their functionality and resilience, rather than constantly critiquing their appearance.
How does this sit with you? Would body neutrality allow to be more self-accepting and stop wasting time on trying to change things which perhaps are out of your control due to genes or your environment? I think it's a very interesting concept and one I'll be giving more and more thought to.
Speak again soon,
Lou x
