In the contemporary society, social media profoundly dominates our lives. These platforms allow individuals to interact worldwide. With such trends, the concept of self-image becomes an issue of concern. Social media has made individuals conscious of their appearance as they interact with celebrities whose images appear perfect. Such expectations force individuals to undergo painful procedures to achieve perfect body images. A closer insight into this issue indicates that self-image goes beyond physical appearance and encompasses the fact that it affects the perception of identity, how individuals fit into the world and their values. All these suggest that self-image is evolving and encapsulates human beliefs and emotions. The essay will, therefore, explore the positive and detrimental aspects of self-image.
Self-image is a critical source of motivation and confidence since when individuals have a strong sense of self-confidence, they set ambitious goals and pursue them relentlessly. All these resonates with the assertion of previous studies that an individual’s thoughts play a crucial role in who we are and what we intend to achieve (Tulku 3). Since thoughts form our perception of self-image, individuals will behave in certain ways to achieve what they want. If one looks closely at the world around us, the media constantly plays a critical role in spreading success stories of individuals who have unwavering self-confidence and triumphed in the long run. These kinds of information suggest the powerful nature of self-image, which propels individuals to greater heights.
Positive self-image significantly influences happiness in various ways. Firstly, when individuals view themselves positively, they will likely have healthy self-esteem, which translates to happiness. Besides, they believe in their capabilities and self-worth, which positively influences their level of satisfaction. Secondly, a positive self-image usually leads to self-acceptance. Normally, when individuals accept themselves for who they embody, including their imperfections and flaws, they experience happiness. Such is the case since it eliminates self-criticism and the turmoil associated with struggling to attain perfection. The statement resonates with the assertion of (Cohen et al., 6) that body positivity encourages individuals to appreciate and accept body features inconsistent with the idealized appearance stipulated in the media. Thirdly, individuals with a positive self-image are willing to pursue their goals relentlessly. When these individuals achieve meaningful goals, they attain accomplishment and happiness. Lastly, a healthy self-image allows individuals to cope with challenges, stress, and setbacks. Typically, the capability to deal with these obstacles allows an individual to attain higher resilience and, consequently, happiness. This is usually the case since an individual remains content when they look back at what they had to overcome to achieve their desires.
In addition, a positive self-image impacts physical health. Firstly, if an individual has a positive body image, they experience lower stress levels. As stated by (Rodriguez-Ayllon et al., 1398), the positive impacts on mental health consequently improve the physical health of an individual. Secondly, individuals with positive self-image engage in healthy behaviors such as exercising, which improves their physical health. Thirdly, a positive self-image is linked to high levels of resilience, which translates to improved physical health. Fourthly, positive body image enhances self-acceptance. As such, an individual will avoid unhealthy eating habits and other behaviors detrimental to physical health. Lastly, positive body image enhances self-care practices such as regular checkups, screening, and preventive measures to improve physical health.
Although self-image has positive impacts, it also plays a critical role in promoting unattainable beauty and success standards. In contemporary society, the various social media platforms, magazines, and adverts often depict airbrushed and photoshopped images of models that distort reality. These activities normally lead to feelings of inadequacy, which consequently affects the self-esteem of individuals. As stipulated in previous studies, the media mostly affects women’s perception of themselves, who may be compelled to engage in unhealthy eating habits such as restrictive eating to attain certain body shapes (Monks et al., 2). In addition, individuals may opt for painful cosmetic procedures to attain the body shapes depicted in the media. All these habits can also lead to self-objectification among women as they feel valued for their appearance.
In conclusion, self-image is a critical issue that affects humans in contemporary society. As stipulated in the article, a positive self-image is a source of motivation and confidence. Such normally happens because self-perception stems from our thoughts. When a person believes they can achieve something, they will pursue it relentlessly. Positive self-image also impacts happiness as one feels content. In addition, positive body image impacts physical health, which explains why some individuals constantly care for their bodies, as they value their appearance despite their unique imperfections. Although self-image has positive impacts, it can lead to the pressure of achieving unrealistic body images. These can result in detrimental consequences. Despite the existence of the negative aspects of self-image, it is evident that the benefits surpass the disadvantages. Individuals must, therefore, embrace their uniqueness and resist the temptations to attain the ideal image as depicted in the media. These actions will pave the way for an authentic society that values diversity and every individual’s worth regardless of appearance.
Works Cited
Cohen, Rachel, et al. “# body positivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram.” Body image 29 (2019): 47–57.
Monks, Helen, et al. “We’re continually comparing ourselves to something”: Navigating body image, media, and social media ideals at the nexus of appearance, health, and wellness.” Sex Roles 84 (2021): 221-237.
Rodriguez-Ayllon, María, et al. “Role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the mental health of preschoolers, children, and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Sports medicine 49.9 (2019): 1383–1410.
Tulku Tarthang. The Tibet Journal, Autumn 1977, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Autumn 1977), pp. 3-7
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