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For the longest time, we have always been told by media what the perfect person is like. Magazines and television shows all feature celebrities who are touted as conventionally attractive, sporting bodies and looks that many of us will never be able to achieve. We are also constantly bombarded with advertisements about the newest diets, physique-enhancing food supplements, or even cosmetic procedures that enhance our looks.
While most of these messages are directed at women, men have also found themselves to be the target of this propaganda. Let’s face it, nobody is perfect, and all body types should be celebrated. Yet men are also subjected to other people telling them that they would look better with beards, or muscles, or a megawatt smile.
These messages can make anyone have low self-esteem and poor evaluations of themselves. It can also decrease confidence and self-esteem. Coupled with society’s toxic notions of masculinity, men are often unable to voice their feelings of concern to others. More and more studies are starting to prove that men are just as prone as women when it comes to developing issues with body image and self-esteem. These can lead to a dip in self-confidence, and perhaps even depression. That is why people who have caries seek low-cost teeth extraction help from Dentably to give them a better smile and increased confidence.
But not all cosmetic concerns linked to body image and self-esteem are healthy. Body dysmorphia among men has been shown to increase the likelihood of steroid use and surgical implants to give the appearance of a more muscular body. The root cause then isn’t physical, but rather psychological.
There are ways to combat low self-confidence and self-esteem. Through practice founded in positive psychology, we can change how we see ourselves beyond our physical appearance. Taking time to write down qualities that other people find admirable about ourselves can help remind us why people are drawn to us, and why they choose to stick around.
Sometimes, it’s the things we enjoy or do well that we take great pride in. Understanding what we are passionate about helps us find wellsprings of positivity that can make us feel valuable to a community. Remembering what we excel at can make us feel a sense of pride, purpose, and fulfillment that outward appearances can rarely do. And knowing that we feel valued despite our appearance reduces the importance we put on such trivial details.
People are often kinder to others than they are to themselves. When we have setbacks or if we start feeling like we’re not enough, practice a little self-compassion. Pretending that we are giving advice to someone other than ourselves can help turn our cruel inner voices into kinder, more compassionate ones.
We unconsciously practice a lot of self-deprecating acts that can prevent us from truly loving ourselves. What we look like is not who we are. Reminding ourselves of that can help us be more confident and more loving of ourselves because it tells us that we are more than our outward physical appearance.
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This content is sponsored by Mian Azhar.
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