I like to think I have a good relationship with my body. I was raised by parents who consciously did not make any comments on my appearance other than that I’m beautiful.
Unfortunately I live in society, so I was still affected by external forces, especially when I went through puberty. Over a decade later, I am still generally happy to live in my body. Are there things about it that upset me? Yes, but that’s only on occasion.
I saw a post years ago talking about how the op was thankful for what their body did for them. When they felt a breeze, sunlight on their face, or tasted delicious food, they gave thanks to their body for giving them the experience. I took it to heart, which greatly helped my teenage self-consciousness.
Being socialized as a woman and constantly receiving the message that I should hate my body and want to contort it into impossible shapes, covering up any flaws.
When I began really questioning my gender, I thought about my relationship with my body a lot. I’ve know about my chest dysmorphia for pretty much as long as I’ve had boobs, but it was interesting to focus in and think deeply about my actual feelings instead of just feeling the intermittent discomfort. I still have mental issues concerning my chest, but that doesn’t mean I hate my body. I’m just uncomfortable with part of it.
It’s an odd feeling, since I know that by social beauty standards I have a great figure, but that’s actually a big part of why I’m uncomfortable. As an asexual woman, I have known since I was twelve that when I dress up I’m going to receive unwanted attention.
Hearing that I was beautiful at least once a day (usually from my mom) my entire life is something I wish everyone had in their life, but I have learned from my friends that it’s rare, which is tragic. I think we should take more time to compliment each other.