5 Ways to Show Your Body Love: Tangible Practices for Radical Self Love
Many of us understand that love is a verb – intention, effort, and actions are key ingredients to healthy relationships. However, translating this sentiment to ourselves tends to be challenging, particularly when we focus on our bodies. Just as loving is doing, body acceptance isn’t just a mindset — it’s a practice that requires showing ourselves care. While shifting your thoughts about your body can be valuable, it is highly impactful to connect with yourself through tangible practices. These actions create opportunities to build a relationship of trust and care with your body, no matter how you feel about yourself on a given day. In this blog post we explore five ways you can actively show your body love and support your journey toward body positivity. This post is inspired by Sonya Renee Taylor’s book The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) perspectives.
Disclaimer: Depending on your history with eating disorders, you may find the following suggestions triggering to the point of overwhelm and potential relapse. If you are unsure of how engaging in these actions will affect you, connect with your therapist or healthcare provider to express these concerns. You deserve support, try to center grace, patience, and compassion for yourself as you’re healing.
1. Mindfully Moisturize Your Body
Taking time to moisturize your body after you shower can be a grounding and nurturing ritual. As you apply lotion, oils, or other products, try to slow down and be intentional. Notice the texture of your skin and how your body feels beneath your hands. Allow your body to completely relax as you do this, no need to stand in a certain way or hold your breath. Challenge yourself to move slower and provide extra care to parts of you that you typically judge harshly; notice how it feels to be present with your body in this way. This isn’t just about skincare — it’s a chance to reconnect with your body and acknowledge it with gentle attention. You might even use this time to express gratitude to specific parts, like your hands for all they do, or your heart for working hard.
If you notice your inner critic is activated to the point of overwhelm, it is okay to stop. It is okay to start small, like focusing only on moisturizing your hands, and noticing how it feels to accept your hands exactly as they are in this moment. As you get more comfortable with the practice, you can challenge yourself to move to other body parts, taking your time in the process.
Notable Nuance: Body acceptance exercises can inadvertently exclude trans people by focusing primarily on cisgender experiences and ideals (e.g., “accept yourself exactly as you are”). Trans individuals may navigate a complex journey around body acceptance, which can be profoundly influenced by their access to gender-affirming care or their proximity to accepting communities. For trans folks, mindfully moisturizing may include focusing most on the parts of your body that feel authentic to you or wearing gender-affirming undergarments while you moisturize (e.g., boxers, binder, bra).
2. Wear Clothes That Feel Comfortable and Empowering
One of the easiest ways to show your body love is to wear clothes that feel good, both physically and emotionally. This might mean choosing fabrics that are soft against your skin, outfits that allow you to move freely, clothes that affirm your gender identity, or accessories that reflect your personal style. Avoid forcing yourself into clothes that feel restrictive or inauthentic. Honoring your body’s needs in the present moment by dressing comfortably can foster a sense of respect and ease.
Notable Nuance: Clothes can be prohibitively expensive, and size-inclusive brands are unfortunately scarce, highlighting the pervasive fatphobia within the fashion and beauty industry. This lack of accessible options not only limits personal expression but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes about body size and worth. Allow yourself to feel angry and upset by this reality. Connecting with online communities focused on body positivity can provide support, inspiration, and resource sharing for finding cute, size-inclusive clothing.
3. Spend Time with People Who Get It
Surrounding yourself with people who are on their own body-acceptance journeys can be incredibly affirming. Whether it’s friends, online communities, or local support groups, connecting with others who challenge fatphobia and embrace body diversity can inspire you to deepen your own self-acceptance. You will likely find that the people who really get it are not only fighting against fatphobia, but also other linked systems of oppression including racism, transphobia, classism, ableism, and more. Radically inclusive environments make a big difference — when you’re around people who celebrate their bodies without judgment, it becomes easier to extend that same kindness to yourself.
Notable Nuance: It's important to approach each person's process with patience, recognizing that everyone evolves at their own pace. You might call a friend in to have a respectful conversation about how their internalized fatphobia affects your relationship. While fostering supportive connections, it's equally vital to express hurt and establish boundaries when necessary, ensuring that your own emotional needs are respected in the journey toward self-acceptance. For example, you might share with a loved one, “I am not okay with you commenting on my weight, even if you are trying to share a compliment. I’d prefer that we uplift each other based on our other qualities.”
4. Engage in Movement That Feels Good
Rather than focusing on exercise as a way to change your body, shift your focus toward movement that feels joyful and nourishing. This could be anything, including dancing, stretching, walking, swimming, or yoga. The goal is to engage with your body in ways that feel pleasurable, not punishing. Listen to what your body needs on any given day — sometimes that might mean rest, and that’s wonderful too.
Notable Nuance: Movement can be triggering for many, so it’s essential to take it slow and listen to your body’s cues as you explore this journey. Gently challenging binary thinking around movement can allow for a more playful and compassionate experience.
5. Belly Breathing
Belly breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, can be a powerful tool for fostering body acceptance. By focusing on deep, intentional breaths that expand the abdomen, individuals can cultivate a greater awareness of their bodies and promote relaxation. This practice encourages connection with one’s physical self, helping to alleviate pressure associated with body image. As we engage in belly breathing, we embrace the natural rhythms of our bodies and have more capacity to accept who we are, as we are right now.
Notable Nuance: Belly breathing doesn't work for everyone for a variety of reasons. If you find belly breathing to be activating or unpleasant, there are other methods to slow down and find grounding, such as sensory-based mindfulness exercises like immersing yourself in cold water or using aromatherapy, which can effectively engage the senses and promote a sense of calm and connection.
Conclusion
Body acceptance isn’t necessarily about changing your thoughts — it’s more about the daily actions you take to care for and honor yourself. Try to focus more on values-aligned actions, rather than forcing your mindset to shift. Remember, it’s okay if your relationship to your body fluctuates. What matters is continuing to show up with mindfulness, kindness, and care, one small action at a time.