What If We Stop Policing Our Own Bodies in Photos?
Hard stuff, I know.
Something I often see in my close circles is the people I love policing their bodies in photos. They’ll ask me to not post a photo because of how they look in it. And while I’m very understanding and respectful of their wishes (because they’re valid in a world that’s conditioned us to look beautiful and show our best selves at all times), I'm challenging myself (as part of my personal body image quest) to not do what they do... not because what they're doing is bad or wrong, by any means. I just want to see what it’s like to let photos of myself that I'm not crazy about exist on the internet or in people’s phones.
What I’m challenging myself to do when it comes to pics of myself:
Not be so judgmental of what I look like in photos❤️🔥
Let my friends post whatever photos of me that they want❤️🔥
Not use filters on photos of myself on social media❤️🔥
Pick out outfits and wear clothing that doesn’t “flatter my body” in photos❤️🔥
One recent example of how I’m doing this…
I am very proud to say I hit 500 classes at my yoga studio this past weekend, which feels like such a massive accomplishment. I’ve been going to this studio for around 2.5 years, and moving my body in this space feels very different than any other fitness space I’ve been a part of before. And for that, I’m grateful.
When a member hits 500 classes at my studio, they get to sign a big fancy board to say, “I did it!” and get their picture taken with it to celebrate such a feat. When I walked in, they’d asked if I wanted a photo before class, to which I replied, “No! Let’s do it after.” I didn’t want to look put together in the pic just for the sake of looking “better” for my inevitable Instagram post. I wanted my sweat, wet hair, red face, post-yoga glow to all be present in the captured memory of me hitting this milestone.
Getting to this place of acceptance that I’ll have a photo taken of me, probably shared to their social media (as well as mine), where I’m not looking my “absolute best” and resisting the urge to edit the photo and just post the damn thing because this is my actual face and my body has completed 500 freaking yoga classes… has been a journey. But I will tell you, it feels like freedom in my body. It feels like connection to my body. It feels like authenticity and alignment with who I am in my core.
I have a strong belief that by going on this journey of challenging myself in these ways, the impacts can only unite me closer with my body and teach me radical acceptance of what she looks like. Since making the conscious decision, I've already noticed a huge difference in my mental health and the way I'm relating to my body on the days I'm not obsessed with the way she looks. It's teaching my brain that my body has more depth than simply her physical appearance. It's teaching my brain that my body does not define who I am as a human being. It's teaching my brain that I am still valued (by myself and others), loved, successful, wanted, and cared about regardless of what my body looks like. It's been an important journey of continuing to come back to myself time and time again. And my hope is that by allowing the presence of my unfiltered, unaltered, real and raw self to exist in photos that the people around me will start to take notice. And maybe (just maybe) they'll start to do the same ❤️🔥
Do you have a friend, family member or peer who might love this too? I’d be honored if you could help me spread the word about my writing and body image conversations!
While I’m not a licensed therapist, registered dietician, or medical health professional and cannot speak to body image topics from a clinical, trauma-informed place, I am an expert of lived experience. I’m an academic of my own body, and I’m passionate about facilitating conversations with other humans about their relationships with their bodies. I believe it’s important to continue conversations about healthy body image in creative spaces as a means to heal individuals as well as the collective whole. But just know the information presented in this medium is not professional mental health advice or medical advice, and any questions or concerns you have should always be directed to your healthcare providers.