We all know that in today’s culture, weight is often highly criticized. Sometimes, it can feel like our weight is the first thing someone notices or points out about us. Many people report that they often feel judged by family members, friends, co-workers, and others in their social circles and that negative comments can be extremely hurtful.
Dealing with Negative Comments
We cannot control the comments of others, especially if they are uninvited, but we can control how we react to them.
Most of us are aware of society’s reaction to people with higher weights and body sizes, and it can be really painful when these reactions are personalized. This can be in the form of:
- Teasing
- Criticisms
- Looks
- Accusations
- Rejections
- Exclusions
- Words
The pain can be hidden, subdued, or pushed aside – but they always undermine our sense of security. Sometimes, we may even consciously or unconsciously agree with the negative feedback and accept it as a part of who we are.
Suggestions to Help:
- Give yourself the right to feel more secure. When no one is around, say out loud, “I have the right to feel good about myself.” It’s important to hear yourself say these words out loud for them to be effective. The more you say these words, the sooner they will be programmed into your mind.
- You may have to give yourself “permission” to feel good about yourself if you have been brainwashed while growing up to feel otherwise. Repeat this often until you believe it: “I choose to give myself permission to feel good about myself.”
- Select some affirmative statements to program your brain into thinking positively. Affirmative statements empower you to change negative thinking in areas that are important to you. For example: “I affirm my intelligence” or “I affirm my ability to be successful at what I choose to do.”
- Take a few affirmative statements that suit you and post them to your mirror or a place you see often. Repeat them out loud every morning and during the day until they are embedded into how you think.
- Counseling and life coaching can help you promote self-perceptions that have an impact on your self-esteem.
Conclusion
With a secure and confident “self,” you can be more successful in achieving pretty much any goal. Self-affirmation can silence the negative “voices” in your head so that you can withstand negative comments, filter feedback, and promote self-confidence.
