It is a version of your body you aspire to become in the future. Majority of the time itâs the ideal standard of beauty or the body image, thatâs being chased as the âperfect bodyâ, coupled with the emotion of dissatisfaction and lack-mindset. Because you are not satisfied with the way you look, you are trying to find a standard outwardly thatâs considered to be attractive to feel better about yourself.
When coming from this state of mind, thereâs a high risk of falling into a trap of unhealthy supplements/diets or cosmetic procedures and risking your health. Even if you achieve the said target body image through effort, discipline and a consistent workout, you will never be satisfied because by then a different version of ideal body image may be trending. So, you will be constantly chasing an illusion if you try to shape yourself according to an ideal body image outwardly.
To avoid being lost in unrealistic standards of beauty or body image, itâs important to understand your own body, its needs and come from a place of love rather than hate. That is, you are inspired to become the ideal body image that feels authentic to you as an act of love to your body, to become a better, a healthier version of yourself, a gift from you to your body, as you love every cell, every molecule of your body and your body deserves to be treated in the best possible way because you love it. You are changing the narrative from one of self-hatred and self-pity to a love letter and gift to your body, and your mindset from lack to abundance, you are speaking kind words to your body and not words of anger and hate.Â
Once you internalise the said idealised body image it becomes the promise to ultimately become that version of you. Closing the gap between delusional thinking and reality.Â
In practice, the body image that has an aspirational positive potential, may foster negative emotions when you are looking at the current state of your body. To avoid this, itâs better to get emotions positive or negative out of the way and hold a neutral stand to look at the current body from a place of facts and data. For example, I weigh this much, this is my height, these are the things practically need to be done to bridge the gap between the ideal self-image and body self.
This, in particular, is beneficial for a person dealing with body dysmorphic disorder, to heal dissociation and ground themselves. It is better to objectively look at the facts on how the body has transformed over the years and reasons for it, how to get to a better position and on that basis to develop a practical plan to get in shape and/or develop healthier habits/lifestyle without engaging in any self-hate talk or shame. Looking at things factually may help you get into a mindset to take inspired actions towards a goal rather than looking at it as a far-fetched dream or an illusion.
Feelings of ungroundedness can be remedied through mindfulness in-flesh. As you are experiencing your body in motion, it shall anchor you back into the reality. Then body image becomes something you experience rather than an identity. It helps with dissociation and to get out of your head, because your body becomes a living experience. The body image is felt within.
When you are fully grounded, conscious of your body, it changes the way you move, the way you eat, sleeping patterns, what you consume not only as edible food but also as soul, emotional and mental food. In reality, body image has a lot to do with the internal experience of your body than your workout or fitness.
When you heal on an emotional level the physical self tends to follow the lead, because most of our relationships with food, lifestyle, diet and habits have a lot to do with our past trauma, coping mechanisms, unhealed childhood wounds or past trauma. Once you start your inner healing work, your perspective starts to shift, and start to live more consciously and intentionally. This will also make it easier to choose a body image inwardly that feels authentic to you.
Most of the time when you heal, you start to automatically reject unhealthy food, habits and lifestyles, even on cheat days you start to eat proportionately. Once you start to feel good in your own body by cleansing it, you donât want to consume trash anymore on a mental, physical, emotional, energetic and spiritual level.
It's best to heal and self-actualise to be aware of your authentic version of ideal body image rather than following trendy standards. If thereâs unresolved trauma and do not feel safe in your body, you will become so fixated on a body image and pedestalise it, because it is something you feel safe rather than the reality of you. Therefore, no matter how much your body changes, you will be dissatisfied with it as you are disconnected from reality and constantly chasing the idealised body image (an illusion). You need to be very clear about who you are and the story you tell yourself in order not to fall victim to a false sense of identity.