Here’s How Body Neutrality Can Give You The Self-Love Breakthrough You Need

When was the last time you thought about the way your body looked? For most of us, it’s definitely been within the past 12 hours. Maybe even within this hour. For some of you, it might have been minutes or seconds ago. Whether positive or negative, we devote huge amounts of our time and energy to thinking about our bodies and appearances.

For years, women have been taught to look at their bodies with shame and disgust. This toxic culture leads to low self-esteem, eating disorders, and billions of dollars spent on industries whose sole purpose is to tell women they’re not good enough. The body positivity movement is working to change all that. Encouraging women to look in the mirror and actually like what they see is a beautiful thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I love body positivity. But despite how amazing the body positive movement is, it’s still all about our bodies. Learning to love how your body looks still places a huge emphasis on how it looks. Wouldn’t you agree that the way our bodies look is the least important thing about them?

My body helps me dance, run, kiss, laugh, and literally keeps me alive. We need to learn to appreciate our bodies for that and not for how small, curvy, or smooth they are. Body neutrality can help you do just that.

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What is body neutrality?

The term has floated around on the internet for a few years, but it’s been hugely popularized by Amy Poirer, who runs a seminar called The Body Neutrality Workshop. Poirer describes her body neutrality as the perfect middle ground between self-hate and self-love. In a session that was attended by a journalist from The Cut, she said: “there’s a whole movement talking about loving our bodies. But it’s kind of a long jump to move there from dissatisfaction. Some people are just going to land in body neutrality, which is the term we utilize here for somewhere in the middle.”

Unlike body positivity, body neutrality doesn’t focus on loving the way your body looks. Instead, it emphasizes celebrating the things your body can do. In body neutrality, the way your body looks is the least important part of the equation.

To people who have had strained relationships with their body image, body love can feel like a daunting and impossible task. Body neutrality relieves some of that pressure. Rather than hating or loving your body, it promotes respecting your body without devoting too much negative or positive energy to its appearance. When the gap between love and hate seems too far to bridge, body neutrality can be a great stepping stone on your way to confidence.

How can you be more body neutral?

Would you like to embrace body neutrality, but aren’t sure where to start? Here are some resources and tricks that can help you along your body acceptance journey:

1. Practice gratitude for the things your body can do.

The benefits of gratitude have been everywhere lately. We express gratitude for so much around us… But when was the last time you told your body you were grateful for it?

Start a list of things your grateful for about your body, whether that’s in your head, on a piece of paper, or in your journal. Remember your list shouldn’t be about appearance, but about the ways your body helps you move, breathe, and communicate every day. Here are a few of my points to get you started:

• I am grateful to my legs for helping me hike uphill.
• My smile lines show that I’ve had a happy and laugh-filled life. I’m grateful to have that happiness etched on my face.
• Thank you arms, for being strong enough to lift a child today.
• Not everyone is able to communicate the way I can. I’m grateful that my body allows me to talk, laugh, and sing.

2. Combat negative self talk with body neutral responses.

Negative self-talk about our bodies can be exhausting. But have you ever tried to talk back?

Practice making a point of contradicting yourself whenever you talk badly about your body. When you think “I hate my thick thighs”, remind yourself “my thighs are strong and help me move. There is so much more to my legs than just the way they look.” Practicing these body neutral comebacks to your negative thoughts can eventually retrain your brain to start thinking a little differently.

3. Change your approach to diet and exercise.

Just like with body positivity, body neutrality doesn’t mean that you don’t care about your health. You can be body neutral and still want to eat well, work out, or even lose weight. You just need these actions to come from a more mindful place.

Body neutrality goes hand-in-hand with intuitive eating and joyful movement. Rather than eating and exercising to lose weight, you should eat and exercise in a way that promotes joy in your life. When practiced correctly, these concepts can bring you a healthier lifestyle and a less appearance-obsessed mindset.

Interested in learning more about intuitive eating and joyful movement? Check out my post on intuitive eating here and my guide to joyful movement here.

4. Declutter your social media feeds.

I have chatted A LOT on this blog about the impacts social media can have on your body image. If your feed is full of impossibly thin or curvy celebrities, heavily edited influencers, or even literal CGI models (this is actually a thing???) it can be hard not to constantly obsess over your own body.

Detox your feed by unfollowing brands, celebrities, or influencers that make you compare or feel bad about your body. Instead, try following accounts that represent diverse body types or promote a healthy body relationship.

Some accounts I recommend include Sarah Nicole Landry from thebirdspapaya (a beautiful blogger and influencer who regularly posts her stretch marks and cellulite), Dianne Bondy (a woman of color, author, and yoga instructor who promotes accessible yoga for all bodies), and Syanne Centeno-Bloom (a model with disabilities who shares glam shots in her wheelchair, braces, and crutches). Of course, you could also check out my account where I share a realistic look at my confidence and mindset journey.

5. Check out these helpful resources.

Finally, keep expanding your mind with even more resources about body neutrality and acceptance. Click the pictures below to shop these thought-provoking books on Amazon:

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What do you think is more beneficial: body positivity or body neutrality? Let me know in the comments below!

No matter what school of thought you prefer, my wish for you is a life where can find confidence in your entire body and self. Sending you all the light and love in the world as you take on that difficult journey.

With love,