I know that many women feel they don't have the right to feel body confident, so let's have a look at what body confidence is. What does it mean and who is it for?

There's a misconception that body confidence means somehow thinking your body is perfect. That, by extension you are perfect.
If you don't look in the mirror and absolutely love every single bit of yourself, can you still be body confident?
If you don't go to the gym, and work out, and have everything toned to perfection, do you have the right to feel body confident? If you haven't, you know, worked hard and earned it?

You don't have to 'earn' body confidence

I'm 49 years old and I don't look in the mirror and see perfection. I look in the mirror and see the reality of my 49 year old, untoned body. I see the stretchmarks (seems unfair, I've never been pregnant, let alone had kids) and the cellulite. I'm not blind to any of it. And I don't think "Wow! look at that cellulite, isn't it pretty" and reach for a camera.

And yet, I am very confident, in my body. Not because I believe it's perfect, but because I don't think it needs to be.

You do not need to do a thing to have the right to feel body confident.
You don't need to eat more healthily, do more exercise, be a certain size or shape. You have the right already. Everyone does.
You have the absolute right to feel comfortable in your own skin.

You don't have to hate yourself, to want to change yourself

There's a fear that goes with accepting yourself, and it looks like this:
"If I accept myself as I am, I am giving up on ever changing".

Accepting yourself is not giving up - it's getting started.

Consider this - have you ever wanted to learn something new? Maybe, you learned to drive, got a degree, or found out how to use spreadsheets? Did you have to to loathe yourself into doing it? Or did you just think "I want to acquire this knowledge, so I am going to put the work in to get it"?

Whenever we choose to improve our minds, or learn something new, we don't come from a place of hate towards ourselves. Instead, we motivate ourselves by telling ourselves "I can do this, and I will benefit from it".

Why can't it be the same with our bodies?

Body confidence doesn't mean never wanting to change anything about yourself. It's about always being accepting of yourself, as you are. Because when you come from a place of acceptance, you are ready to motivate and support yourself. You are ready to thrive.

So, yes, you have the right to body confidence. Be comfortable in your skin, be accepting of your imperfections and be confident enough to let other women feel the same.

Much love,
Anna
xx