How to Have a More Positive Body Image

What is body image? Quite simply, it is the way we think about our physical appearance. It is the perception we have about our bodies. Our body image can affect our confidence, which in turn affects how we dress, how we relate to others, how we socialize (or avoid people), how we eat, what activities we do, and other important aspects of life.

When we accept our bodies and feel confident enough in our appearance to function normally in the world, we have a positive body image. However, when all we see in the mirror is a physically flawed person and allow this assessment to direct the relationships we pursue, the jobs we take, the clothes we wear, etc., we have a negative body image.

Essentially, there is a mental calculation going on: a measuring of our appearance against what we believe is the ideal. If we get close to or match our ideal, we feel positive about our body, but if we veer too far from our ideal, we tend to have negative thoughts about our body.

In this article, we will think through the idea of body image from a biblical perspective: What does God say about our bodies, and how we should view them?

What does God say about our bodies?

Here are three things the Bible says about our bodies.

We are made in the image of God.

At the beginning of Genesis, when God creates humankind, the Bible says:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27, NIV

The first reason to have a positive body is this: We are all made in the image of God. Don’t let your familiarity with this verse cause you to skip over this mind-blowing truth. The all-powerful, holy, majestic God has created us – YOU – in his likeness! No other thing in all creation besides humankind has been honored in this way. Differences in appearance are good; God loves diversity, and so should we.

God made everything very good.

The second reason for a positive body image is that God Himself has a positive view of all His creation, including the bodies He made for us:

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. – Genesis 1:31, NIV

This positivity is reiterated in Psalm 139:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14, NIV

God will ultimately resurrect and renew our bodies.

While the Bible acknowledges the brokenness of the world and everything in it after sin entered creation, Scripture continues to affirm the truth that we are still made in God’s image – even if that image has been tarnished to some extent.

God does not change his mind about the goodness of His creation. His response to the brokenness is to rescue and restore us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Ultimately, God promises that He will completely renew His creation (Isaiah 65:17, Revelation 21).

What can we learn about body image from this?

If God considers our bodies “good” and declares that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” we should also see our bodies this way. This does not mean we are to be blind to physical impairments or ignore health issues. However, our essential feelings about ourselves should be good.

God’s “positive body image” invites us to act in a caring way toward our own body. Because we are made in His image, because He thinks our bodies are good, because He made us, and because one day our bodies will be resurrected and renewed, we should think positively about our bodies and look after them. We should delight in our differences rather than try to be just like everyone else or conform to media ideals.

As God’s people, we must value what God values. His voice and His truth must be louder and more significant in our lives than those who say we should look a certain way.

When should I seek professional help?

Sometimes, the way we think about our body has been deeply affected by abuse, trauma, or addiction. In these cases, it may be hard to shift to a positive body image without first dealing with the underlying issues. If this sounds like your situation, please consider counseling sessions with a trained biblical counselor. Contact us today to make an appointment with a counselor and start to regain a healthy and positive body image.