ABC of Mental Health

Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health — one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is body image. We bring it to your inbox this Thursday to make your Thursday a little therapeutic!  

If you like what you read here, click to share this newsletter via WhatsApp today 🙂 

Three TherapyShorts from TST: 

No one ideal body: The “ideal” or “perfect” body is an absolute myth. It is indeed a subjective and often unattainable societal construct, sold to us ever since industrialisation to get more and more of us to “fit” their mass-produced goods. It's important to recognize that beauty standards vary across cultures and time periods, and they are influenced by media, fashion, and other social factors, predominantly consumerism which is a function of capitalism.

Body functionality >>> Body appearance: By shifting our focus from appearance to functionality, we foster a healthier relationship with our bodies. Instead of constantly evaluating ourselves based on societal standards, we appreciate the incredible capabilities and strength that our bodies possess – your goal for your body could be that it gives you strength, stamina, flexibility or so much more than just appearance. Shift your focus to how your body does and can serve you better in that respect.

Embrace body neutrality: A lot of time is spent in trying to “love” our bodies which doesn’t come naturally to many of us since society has conditioned us to dislike it since a young age (not fair enough, not tall enough, not thin/muscular enough, no washboard abs and the list goes on). The ability to accept and respect your body even if it isn't the way you'd prefer it to be is what a body-neutral approach looks like and is often more doable than body positivity. 

Two quotes on self-love and body acceptance

Lori Deschene, founder of Tiny Buddha, a platform promoting mindful living, affirms that self-love arises not from self-hate but from compassion.

“We can’t hate ourselves into a version of ourselves we can love.” 

Hannah Brencher is a writer and founder of More Love Letters. Brencher's words highlight the profound gift of acceptance, granting others the safety to be authentic.

“The best gift you are ever going to give someone — the permission to feel safe in their own skin.”

One relevant recommendation: A short video on body image that changed my outlook on my body completely

50 People, 1 Question (Video, 2014)
The above video demonstrates a social experiment that explores people’s relationships with their bodies and at what point in our lives they begin to change. In this experiment, 50 individuals from different walks of life are asked a common question concerning their bodies. It emphasizes to its viewers that beauty is not about what one lacks, but what one already has. It is about embracing the different ways in which our body helps us rather than hating it for all the ways it doesn’t match up to our expectations (often influenced by society). The idea behind this initiative is to rekindle childlike curiosity and reinforce that beauty comes in various forms, shapes and colours.

Love and light,

The Social Therapist

PS: Love me at all times