Hey PC folks, I have a question about body image I guess (and PLEASE don't move this to "Women's Issues" 'cuz it's not just a Women's issue)
I've always struggled, like most women I know, to embrace my body fully and feel entirely confident about my looks. I also feel strongly that looks are maybe the least important characteristic of a person, and put a lot of energy into denying my how-I-look anxiety...but I still have fun playing with my image and dangit...I like to feel pretty sometimes!
Anyways...even in my most confident moments, I can get caught off guard by recognizing the certain "flaws" that bother me the most. My immediate response to catching a reflection of my too-big Italian nose, large butt, or too-short legs, is a feeling of horror and disgust...followed by shame and regret for even thinking for a second that I could be beautiful.
This superficial, self- hating, overly critical self-judgement goes against everything I stand for! I hate that women and girls are trained to over-analyze and breakdown their physical weaknesses based on a totally biased and limited definition of beauty...but still, I can't help but be disgusted (and it IS a feeling of Disgust) at my own "undesirable" body parts.
Looking in the mirror and thinking, "yuck" ...it sucks
Do any of you all have any experience-based advice on how to shut off the internal $h!+-talking?