How to focus on what your body can DO

Do you overly focus on what you look like and forget what your body can DO?

If so, you aren’t alone!

Yet research shows that focussing on what your body can do is a highly effective strategy for improving body image.

So to help you get the focus off your appearance, I’m sharing a super simple exercise.

This exercise will help you to see yourself as more than an ornament.

Watch or read below:

Function versus form

With so much focus on appearance, it’s easy to forget that you’re more than an ornament.

But research shows that overly focussing on your looks is bad for your body image.

And that’s why one effective way to improve body image is to put the focus firmly on what your body can do i.e. its function over its form.

A simple exercise

So to help you get into the habit of focussing on function over form, I’m sharing a simple exercise with you.

If you’re struggling to see yourself as more than an ornament, try completing the following sentence with as many answers as you can.  The sentence is….

My body can________________

That’s it, as simple as that!

To help you with this exercise you might want to group your responses into the following categories of function:

1. Bodily processes e.g. digesting food or fighting infection
2. Physical capabilities e.g. riding a bike or walking to work
3. Senses and sensations e.g. seeing nature or experiencing pleasure
4. Creative functions e.g. singing, dancing, writing
5. Communication e.g. speaking, facial expressions
6. Self-care e.g. taking a shower or resting

For each function, also think about what is personally meaningful to you about it.

For example, you might say, “My body can hug my partner, which helps me to express the love I feel for him/her.”

Completing this exercise helps you to appreciate all your body does and allows you to do, creating a more balanced perspective.

One way to build this into your life is to complete this sentence with at least one response every day.

I’d love to know how you found this exercise.  Please leave a comment below.

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