Mirror Mirror on the wall
The year has started again, you stand in front of the mirror and look at your reflection. Immediately a lot of thoughts go through your head and these are often not positive.
Ideal picture
It will be hard to find a dancer who has never worried about their body. The mirrors, comments from some teachers, social media and peer pressure all factor into a dancer's concern to fit into what they themselves often see as the ideal picture to be met.
Inside
Body image issues come up regularly. Even dancers who you would think never think about how they look worry from time to time. But it's not just about the outside at all. A positive body image consists of three components:
- Self-confidence: Valuing yourself and believing that others appreciate you and are happy with your company.
- A positive attitude: Appreciate your powers and avoid the three following negative things:
- Perfectionism; To live up to an ideal that is almost impossible to achieve and maintain
- Comparison: Constantly comparing yourself to others.
- Being very critical and judgmental; The more critical you are of others, the more likely you are to do the same to yourself.
- Emotional Stability: A healthy connection to your thoughts and feelings as well as sharing experiences with others.
When we talk about body image, it's often about the outside. However, these 3 points are about much more than that.
Look further
In this blog I want to give you 3 tips on how to create a positive body image by looking beyond the outside as well.
- Make a list of nice things about yourself
It's really, really important to appreciate your body and not be so hard on yourself. I always said by default that I was so happy with my hair, very easy, then I would have answered the question again and I was done with it. It remains strange for us down-to-earth Dutch people to say what you think is great about yourself. Go do it anyway. Even if you only write down 1 thing in the beginning, that's fine. Slowly it will become more and more and eventually you will look in the mirror one day and you will just be very happy with yourself, period. What also helps is that in addition to external properties, you also write down character traits and skills that you are good at; you are not just the outside!
- Another great dancer doesn't make you any less great
Comparing is really something we, unfortunately, do all day long. Comparison is also really disastrous for your state of mind. You are who you are and that's great, you don't have to do anything for this. You also have to realize that you are not less beautiful or good because someone else is. Something you may not like about yourself, someone else will like. Focus on having fun, being happy with who you are with all the good and bad points. Comparing yourself to someone else and wanting to look like that is not realistic. At least not when it comes to a prima ballerina. Focus on yourself.
- Focus on what your body can do F
When you think about it, it's really amazing what your body can do. How many years has your body carried you through life? And with dancers it goes a step further!! Not a complicated computer or software can do all this without you having to do anything about it. That one extra kilo is not going to change everything your body does for you. Just sit down and think about it. Make a list of things your body allows you to do. You will see that you will be impressed.
Resilience
As a dancer you will often have to deal with mirrors, comments, social media and peer pressure, you cannot escape that. You can work on the way you deal with it. It will help you find a healthy way to deal with body image. I read this quote in a book that I really like:
"It's not about believing your body looks good, it's about knowing your body is good no matter what it looks like."
Knowing more? Then take a look at my Facebook page, Instagram and soon also Youtube channel.
Inspiration; Jess Spinner, Body Kindness; Rebecca Scritchfield, SPITZ
