How to (Finally) Stop Being Ashamed of Your Body, or Parts Thereof

How to (Finally) Stop Being Ashamed of Your Body, or Parts Thereof 

When it comes to our bodies, everyone is their own worst critic. Perhaps you've spent countless hours scrutinizing the length of your nose or the width of your hips. Or maybe it is a mole on your back or the size of your feet that drives you crazy. We re all quite good at pointing out and obsessing over our own flaws, but most of us have a much harder time when it comes to accepting what we were born with.

In fact, an ABC News article reported that 35 percent of women have negative thoughts about their body up to five times a day. And another report, published in the journal Psychosomatics, found that 75 percent of U.S. students are concerned with the appearance of parts of their body (and another 30 percent say they are preoccupied with this concern).

Not surprisingly, the study also found that having low body-esteem was linked to low self-esteem and symptoms of depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior. So, accepting and, even more so, feeling good about your body is essential to feeling good about yourself and leading a happy, fulfilling life.

More Americans Turning to Plastic Surgery

These days, nearly any physical imperfection on your body can be fixed, for a price, and increasing numbers of Americans are choosing plastic surgery as a way to boost their body image.

In 2005, for instance, Americans spent over $12 billion on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures (this does not include reconstructive procedures), according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

Further, in 2005, 11.5 million cosmetic surgeries were performed, according to ASAPS. That's double the amount performed in 2000. And young college students are among one of the fastest-growing groups turning to plastic surgery to improve their body image.

The three top reasons why young adults come in [are] to boost their self-confidence, to be more competitive in the professional world and to find a mate, said Deborah Levinrad, coordinator of the UCLA Cosmetic Surgery Center. 

Meanwhile, plastic surgery is becoming increasingly acceptable, with 55 percent of women and 52 percent of men saying they fully approve of it, according to a 2006 ASAPS survey.

Why Loving Your Body is so Important

While plastic surgery may serve to improve the self-esteem of many who choose it, it is a short-term solution to a bigger issue. Five years after a facelift, for instance, your face will inevitably have new wrinkles, and liposuction will not keep excess fat away if your lifestyle isn't changed along with it.

In reality, no matter how many cosmetic procedures someone may have, they will probably always find another imperfection unless they learn how to love their body.

Just imagine: Instead of loathing each new line on your face, embracing them for the memories that made them. Instead of longing to be unrealistically thin, changing your lifestyle to support your health, and savoring every bodily curve it creates. And instead of faulting yourself for your grey hair, your large nose or your gangly arms, priding yourself on the fact that these are the things that make you unique.

Now imagine the great rewards you'll reap for loving yourself. Research has proven that a negative body image is draining. Among adolescents, it's even been found to contribute to:

 Depression and anxiety
 Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
 Dissociation (blocking out emotions as a coping mechanism)
 Sexual preoccupation and distress
 Post-traumatic stress disorder

A positive body image, meanwhile, will boost your self-esteem, your sense of well-being and peace, and even your very happiness, so you've got nothing to lose.

How to Stop Being Ashamed and Start Loving Your Body

Loving your body can, indeed, happen, and it's not hard. The first step is to let go of the shame, the negativity, the criticisms and the blame by learning The Sedona Method. With this simple technique, you'll be armed with the knowledge of how to release the negative thoughts and emotions that are supporting your poor body image.

In their place, you'll feel an open sense of freedom that you may not have felt before, and with that freedom from the negative you'll start embracing the positive aspects of your body and accepting yourself fully. When you use The Sedona Method, you will no longer feel shame about your body (or any aspect of yourself). You will feel only a natural sense of warmth, peace and joy.

The following tips will also help you to start loving your body, and, when used with the Method, make an excellent positive routine you can implement in your life today: 

* Exercise and eat a healthy diet. Getting into good physical shape will improve your body shape, too!
* Get plenty of sleep each night (there's a reason it's called beauty sleep ).
* Pamper yourself with a long bath, a special outing or a spa day, just because.
* Say only loving things to yourself. Ban "I hate my thighs",or "my behind is too big" from your vocabulary (and your mind).
* Don't compare your body to others. Your body is one of a kind!
* Write a list of things you love about your body. Keep it somewhere handy and refer to it often.
* Give thanks for your health, your life and your abilities.