The last few years have seen a social push to continuously “love” your body. That can be annoying and impractical, but it’s better than attempting to live up to socially prescribed standards of beauty. It’s difficult to always feel 100% of anything, including your body, after all.
Body neutrality enters the picture here. With an emphasis on concepts like acceptance and appreciation for what your body can accomplish without feeling the need to love it all the time, this approach encourages people to choose an alternative route to a good body image.
Although body neutrality has many benefits, such as greater flexibility in accepting who you are, greater self-compassion, and less pressure, it’s not for everyone. Thus, What does body neutrality entail, and how does it vary from body positivity? This is the situation.
Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality
Although they aim to help people have more positive body images, body positivity and body neutrality are not the same.
“Body neutrality refers to accepting the body you are in, regardless of your feelings toward it,” says psychologist Thea Gallagher, PsyD, co-host of the Mind in View podcast and clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health. “It also emphasizes valuing your body for its functional qualities rather than just its appearance.”
According to The Renfrew Center’s clinical education expert Ashley Moser, LMFT, body neutrality aims to deflect attention from one’s looks. Body neutrality promotes appreciation for the ways in which our bodies enable us to engage with the outside world, dance, give hugs, and experience the warmth of others sun, which detracts from the appearance of the body,” she explains.
Body positivity intensifies the feelings involved. According to Gallagher, “body positivity is truly loving your body.” “Body positivity promotes radical acceptance and celebration of the body,” says Moser.
Body Neutrality
- Removes emotion from body image
- Focuses on gratitude and function
- Doesn’t require loving your body
Body Positivity
- Encourages loving your body, all of the time
- Focuses on body parts
- Involves emotion
Why Neutrality Matters
It’s common knowledge that body neutrality is a more compassionate and approachable perspective on your body. The national clinical response manager at Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center, Meredith Nisbet, LMFT, states that “constant body positivity can pose challenges, as it may set unrealistic expectations, creating another unachievable standard.” Additionally, she claims that some people may find body positivity “overwhelming,” particularly if they are having issues with their bodies.
Body neutrality is to refocus attention on how you treat your body and divert it from conventional notions of attractiveness. According to Moser, “taking the emphasis off physical appearance can have a positive overall impact on the way we treat our bodies.” When we see taking care of our bodies—moving, eating, and maintaining them—as the vehicle for our lives as opposed to when we regard it as a means of avoiding bad emotions and conforming to social norms.
However, body image is a personal journey, therefore it’s critical to identify a strategy that you find meaningful. It’s fantastic if body neutrality appeals to you. It’s okay if body positivity seems more your style. According to Gallagher, “some people are just inherently more positive or optimistic about their bodies.” “There are a lot more complex feelings for other people.”
How to Practice Body Neutrality
It’s critical, according to Gallagher, to surround yourself with people who regard you as a person rather than just how you look. However, you can also take the following actions to practice body neutrality:
· Treat yourself with kindness. Nisbet states that it is beneficial to “practice kindness to oneself while diverting from harmful thought patterns.”
Recognize that shifting opinions about one’s body is common. According to Moser, “validate and normalize the ebbs and flows of body image.” “Remember that our feelings about our bodies and ourselves exist on a spectrum, just like everyone else’s days and feelings do.”
Reduce the amount of time you spend staring at the mirror. Gallagher advises reducing the frequency with which you evaluate your looks if you notice that you tend to be critical about it
Examine yourself.
· Show appreciation. This entails monitoring the functions of your body in day-to-day living, even if it functions differently from other people’s bodies. “Your body, no matter what its size or ability, deserves respect and care,” adds Moser.
Sift through the people you follow on social media. According to Moser, this entails ignoring influencers who uphold an unattainable body norm and following those who advocate for body neutrality.
· Take initiative. Gallagher advises, “Move your body in a way that feels good.” “You may feel more in tune with your body by doing this.”
Convert drawbacks into something useful. Gallagher suggests substituting positive statements, such as that your legs are beautiful, for self-deprecating thoughts if you find yourself hating on them your legs are powerful enough to carry you around.
The Bottom Line
It’s possible to feel more compassion for oneself when you practice bodily neutrality. Additionally, it might ease your anxiety and tension related to your physical appearance. Being body neutral is a continuous process, thus it’s crucial to have patience while going through it. It’s acceptable to have negative ideas and criticisms; don’t worry about it. It takes time to complete this process.
Ultimately, embracing diversity and building a world where everyone is at ease and self-assured in their own skin—on their own terms—can be accomplished by doing your hardest to accept who you are.
