Work With What You've Got

IMPROVE YOUR BODY IMAGE
BY LISA WESEMAN

Sometimes it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the things you don't like about yourself. But rather than focusing on the bad, take a look at these tips to turn your negatives into positives - and learn how to live a happier, healthier life.

Work it
When it comes to your looks, your ideas don't just come from within - they're influenced by the world around you. Comments from parents, pictures in magazines, even a partner can convince you that certain aspects of your body aren't okay. The truth is, you'll only turn these "negatives" into positives by changing your attitude about them.

Beauty at Any Age
It's not your face, it's your soul Learn to work with your body, not against it. Instead of following the latest fashion trends, stick with what makes you feel and look good. Don't dwell on what you dislike about your body - focus on its beauty and strength. Go for a walk or a swim and marvel at your body's strength. Meditate and feel the power of your breath; laugh and feel the joy of your heart. Take a shower and thank each part of your body for doing its part to keep you alive.

The more you begin to see your body as wondrous, beautiful home for your soul, the more you'll want to take care of it with kindness and love.

Focus outward
Feeling insecure, lonely or blue? Sometimes no matter how much you try to work on your problems or distract yourself from your thoughts, you just can't shake negative feelings. One of the best ways to pick yourself up is to pick someone else up. No matter how bad your problems are, there's always someone who could use your help. Have lunch with the chatty coworker who just needs someone to listen to her. Volunteer at an after-school center. Pack up your old clothes and donate them to charity. Offer to help your elderly neighbor out.


Taking time to focus your energy on another person will give you a break from your own issues, put your problems in perspective or even offer insights into how you can improve your own situation. Most of all, helping someone else will buoy your spirits and remind you of your value to the world.

Go with the flow
Just as you can work with your body, not against it, you can also flow with your personality instead of trying to invent a new one. When thinking about yourself, don't even consider your "negatives" as anything other than challenges that can be used to improve your life.

For example, if your challenge is talking too much, don't shut down and pretend to be a quiet person. When you're talking, pay attention to what you're saying and how your listener is reacting. Over time you will become more aware of when your talking is beneficial to yourself and those around you. As you hone your skills, you can also channel your gift of gab in a positive way, like becoming an advocate for a cause you feel passionate about.

If your challenge is having a terrible memory or being bad with your money, don't just view it as negative personality trait that will drag you down. You'll only overcome by seeing it as a positive opportunity for growth. Start taking notes and keeping track of your spending, and you'll probably see that organization and attention to detail spill over into the rest of your life!

It's important to know yourself well enough to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. But don't dwell too much in either area. Never make your goal to change who you are - it should be to use all your gifts and challenges to live the happiest, most fulfilling life you possibly can.