"I wish I had straight hair"; "I'd like to be taller". At times, we all want to look a bit more like someone else. However, the pictures we see on TV and social media can give us improper ideas about how our bodies "should" look. The truth is that everybody is different — and that's a good thing. Accepting and feeling good about our bodies is really important for our self confidence (自信).
Body confidence is when someone accepts and behaves kindly towards their body. That includes our size and shape, skin color, appearance and any physical disabilities. Jade Parnell from the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR), says that having body confidence is "about being accepting of your body and what it does for you".
If you feel positively (积极地) about your body, you are more likely to take care of it. Research has even shown that you are more likely to take part in activities and perform well in school. However, feeling agitated about your body could make you step back, do less well at school and even feel down. Parnell says that the cost of trying to achieve the "perfect" appearance is high. She says, "If you're spending a lot of time trying to look a certain way, you will have less time to spend with friends and to make important memories."
It's important to remember that everybody is different. To develop a positive body image, Parnell says, "Try to talk positively about your own body and other people's bodies. Try not to pay too much attention to appearance. Instead, think about what your body does for you; do your legs make you run really fast?" She also suggests treating your body well by eating different kinds of foods, exercising to feel good and to have fun, and getting plenty of sleep. Remember that you are more than how you look.
