The holidays are here. Finally! If you are like me, there are good days and bad days when it comes to body image. The holidays are particularly stressful when everyone is congregating for meals, family is near, and all the holiday photoshoots on Instagram from friends are giving us FOMO. However, with the fear of seeing just one more photo of yourself where someone says you look great! but in your mind, you just feel like you are not enough is just reaching around the corner. Additionally, with all the holiday specials and stressors, emotional and stress eating is always creeping up on us. This a time of connection, community, and joy, and yet, all it makes some want to do is curl up and isolate. If you are feeling body anxiety and you are worried about how you can cope this season, then this blog is for you.

Body Image is not a "one size fits all"

I know you have heard this time and time again. We all have unique bodies, but while we may not be able to hear that from others, know that your mindset matters daily in how you choose to love yourself, respect yourself, and value yourself. You don’t have to say cheesy things that are not true, but you do deserve to see yourself as worthy. The truth is there is no such thing as the ideal body. Instead, we have constructed the “ideal” body and its changes from decade to decade. There is no real reason aside from social media pressure to make ourselves conform. What I would recommend is that if you are not feeling good enough, make sure you are getting rid of clothes that don’t give you joy. Choose comfortable and cute clothes. Thank your body for what it can do, and remember, you are someone’s ideal size. Even if you believe you don’t fit in. Love yourself as you are.

2. Body Image is not just a black women's issue

Body image is a universal image. There has always been a draw toward what people prefer and do not. Black women, white women, Indigenous, and everyone in between have their own standards and insecurities. What I do want to recognize is that for black and brown-skinned women, our body has often been policed and overlooked. People love our bodies, just not our skin tone. That is hard to sit with, but we are desirable, wanted, and needed. Know that if you have ever grown up thinking no one will ever want you, despite the fact that this is a universal issue, you are deserving and worthy of feeling loved and whole in the skin you have right now!

Navigating Body Image is a Process, Journey, and Challenge All in One.

The biggest setback we can experience this holiday season is expecting us to be healed, whole, and changed within the next week. It has taken time to get to this point, and it will be a process to transform your compassion and love for yourself. This is not meant to discourage you. However, think about all the fads and extremes you may have gone through trying to be smaller or look a certain way. That takes a toll on our psyche and well-being. Be kind and patient with yourself. Take pride in the small changes and accomplishments you make each and every day. These small changes will add up whether you believe it or not. Take pride in your progress, don’t expect to have a whole 180 turnaround in the next month, but know even small changes can make a big impact on the journey.

Body Image is not easy to navigate during the holiday season. In order to get through it, you need to be compassionate and understanding.

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