Embracing Your True Self (Beyond the Filters)

Social media is all about portraying the best possible version of ourselves. Those vacation pictures and flawlessly styled selfies don’t tell the whole story. We compare our unfiltered reality to someone else’s carefully crafted insides, and it’s a recipe for a complete disaster.

Social media often equates beauty with specific body types and facial features. This can lead to feeling like our bodies aren’t good enough, and create a constant sense of wanting and never having enough. This can skew our perception of what is normal and healthy, leading to body dissatisfaction.

Social media is a double-edged sword. It’s important to be mindful of the fact that social media is not always what it seems. Even body-positive influencers can sometimes promote unrealistic beauty standards. It’s also important to remember that social media is a highlight reel. People tend to post their best photos, and they may not be showing the whole picture. But by being mindful of how it affects us, we can leverage its positive aspects and cultivate a healthy body image. Remember, your worth isn’t defined by the number of likes you get, and true beauty comes from embracing yourself, flaws and all.

Some countless influencers and accounts are dedicated to promoting self-love and acceptance. These accounts can be a great source of inspiration and support.

Body positivity is all about self-acceptance. It’s about recognizing that all bodies are good bodies and that's what makes us unique is what makes us beautiful (it may sound like the most cliqued thing ever, but it is true). It’s about moving away from the idea that there’s one “ideal” body type, and instead celebrating the incredible diversity of the human form.

These are some things we all should be careful about:

Be mindful of who you follow. If following someone makes you feel bad about yourself, hit unfollow.

Take breaks from social media. It’s okay to disconnect for a while.

Focus on the real world. Spend time with yourself and with people who make you feel good about yourself and appreciate you

Talk to someone you trust. If you’re struggling with your body image, talk to a friend, family member, therapist, or counsellor.

We should try to surround ourselves with people who love us as we are and help us love ourselves as we are; because remember, true beauty radiates from within, so focus on being your most confident and authentic self, both online and off.

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