Social media influence

According to the responses collated by a survey conducted, social media had a large part to play in the reasons given by people on why they felt worse about their bodies.

People had reported seeing more adverts for products to change their appearance, especially weight loss products, as they spent more time-consuming media in their homes.

Here are a few tips to help you develop a positive identity: 

• Thoughts: 

Our thoughts are extremely powerful. By now you have realised that every thought you think is not necessarily true, but every thought you think will shape how you feel and act today. You also know that in turn, this behaviour will determine where you will be tomorrow. You are what you are today because of the thoughts you had in the past and you can be at a different place in the future if you start to think positively about yourself and your life. Therefore, take every thought captive. Only positive thoughts about yourself will change the way you feel about yourself, which will determine how you act and what your character will look like, and ultimately influence your destiny. 

• Beliefs

What you believe generally subconsciously influences what you think. When you change your beliefs about yourself, your thoughts automatically become positive. Exchange the negative beliefs with a positive belief, for example: 

I feel anxious in crowds.

I believe nobody likes me and I am unlikable. 

Truth to exchange false beliefs. 

Say it out loud:

I have value and I am a valuable asset in people’s lives. 

I have a lot to contribute. 

I am friendly, kind and warm. Maybe not everybody will like me (who is liked by everybody in any case?) but there will definitely be people who will like what I have to bring through my personality and who will have a need to bond with me.  

• Visualisation: 

Visualisation means recreating all the images, sounds and feelings in your mind that surround a particular activity in order to practice in the “perfect” and safe environment of your mind. Research has shown that when you visualise yourself doing something it strengthens that ability. 

Visualise how you would like to think, feel, act and be: what you would like to achieve in life and where you see yourself in the future. This will help you see the end as if you are sure about it and have already achieved it. You’ll be empowered to achieve your goals. 

Make yourself a priority. Do things that make you feel good: mind, body and soul.