Daily Habits for a Positive Self-Image and Mindset

 

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What if your self-worth wasn’t tied to your reflection? In a world where body image can feel like everything, imagine the freedom of valuing yourself beyond physical appearance.

In this episode of Embrace Your Real, we dive deep into the relationship between self-image and body image—two concepts that often get tangled in our minds.

I’ll be sharing practical tips and mindset shifts to help you build a positive self-image that isn’t confined to what you see in the mirror. Together, we’ll explore how to break free from comparison, avoid harmful self-labels, and focus on personal progress and authenticity. You’ll discover that nurturing a healthy self-image starts with recognizing your intrinsic value, which goes far beyond any social media highlight reel.

I also discuss:

(00:00) Improving Body Image

(01:32) Building a Positive Self-Image

(13:33) Embracing Authentic Self-Worth

 

And more!

 

If you want more from me, be sure to check out...

 

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Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

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Amazon Storefront: Julie Ledbetter's Amazon Page


Transcript:

[00:00:00] Hey, beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with. [00:00:05]

[00:00:05] You, but I promise I'll be really quick. [00:00:07]

[00:00:07] You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Real with Me. Do I better? I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body and unconditionally. [00:00:16][8.7]

[00:00:17] Loving your authentic self. [00:00:18]

[00:00:19] Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace a real. Let's get it. Let's go. [00:00:22]

[00:00:32] Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode. If you are always being hard on yourself, your doubting your worth, It is a sign that your self-image could use some attention. I think many of us confuse self-image with body image, and sometimes when you're able to improve your self-image, you actually realize that your body image was never actually a problem to begin with. But let's be real. The constant negative thinking that is what can hold you back from feeling good about yourself and truly appreciating who you are. But the great news is you absolutely 100% can change this. And so by building more of a positive self-image, this isn't as complicated as it might seem. It just takes a few intentional mindset shifts and daily habits that really work. And so that's why in today's episode, I'm not only going to help you understand the difference between self-image and body image, but I also want to give you some super simple practical steps that will help you to start seeing yourself in a healthier, more positive way. Before I dive in, though, I wanted to share this review. A comes from Kiersten. See, she gave a five star review and said, Julie is incredibly inspiring. I have been following Julie on social media now for a while and I was also once subscribed to her workout app I highly recommend. I just recently started listening to her podcast and I love it. Cleanly edited, consistent volume and valuable content. She is inspiring, uplifting, and gives a fresh perspective on mental and physical health. Keep up the good work, Julie. I'm a big fan. I'm so grateful. Thank you so much, Kirsten, for tuning in to the podcast, and I'm grateful that you enjoyed the moment with Julie App and that you are now listening to podcast. That is so, so encouraging. So thank you for taking time out of your day to send in that review. All right, let's dive into nine underrated ways to build a more positive self-image. So self-image itself and body image, like I mentioned, those are two terms that often get mixed up, but they're actually pretty different. And understanding the difference is super important. So let me kind of break them down to make it crystal clear. So self-image, this is really the overall picture that you have of yourself. It's how you see yourself mentally, emotionally, socially. But it's also this includes your personality, your abilities, your overall value as a person. So, for example, if you believe that you're confident or you're capable or you're a good friend, that's a positive self-image. Whereas on the other hand, if you consistently think that you're not smart enough or that you're not worthy, that is negative self-image. It's the sum of all of your thoughts and feelings about who you are. Body Image. On the other hand, this is more specific. So this is how you see and feel about your physical appearance. Body image is really the thoughts and emotions that are tied to your body shape, size, how you look. And it can be a positive or negative depending on whether you feel satisfied or dissatisfied with your appearance. So, for example, if you have a great self-image when it comes to your skills and personality, but you still feel insecure about your body shape, this would be having a positive self-image but a negative body image. So even though they're different self image and body image, they're closely linked because really they're how you feel about your body. And that in and of itself can influence your overall self-image, right? If you're unhappy with your body, it can affect how you see yourself as a person, which leads to a lower self-image. Likewise, if you have a positive self-image, it can sometimes help you feel more accepting of your body, even if it's not exactly where you want it to be. But the most important thing that you need to know is that improving your body image doesn't equate to improving your self-image. Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter how fit or skinny or lean or toned you get. This doesn't automatically mean you're going to start believing in yourself and thinking that you are worthy. You're beautiful, you're capable, all of those things. And that's why it's important to work on both self-image and body image. But remember that your self-image is about who you are as a person, not just what you look like. So let's kind of dive into some simple ways to improve our self-image. Number one, this is super cliche, but so, so important. You have to stop comparing yourself to others. I know it's easier said than done, but comparing yourself to others is one of the fastest ways to chip away at your self-image, right? Social media makes it super easy to fall into a trap of thinking Everyone else has it all together. But remember, people only show the highlights. Let me say that again. People only show the highlights. You never really know what is going on behind the scenes. When you find yourself comparing, I want you to pause and remind yourself that you are on your own unique path. I want you to focus on your own progress, not somebody else's. If social media is triggering this for you, I need you to take a break. Unfollow accounts that don't make you feel good and really try to surround yourself with positivity and people who inspire you without making you feel less then number. Q You have to stop labeling yourself. Eliminate the phrases like I'm always or I'm just not the kind of person who, from your self talk, these labels can and will reinforce these fixed mindsets, and this is going to lead to preventing growth, because the more that you repeat these labels, the more you believe them to be flat, factual. Instead, I want you to replace them with more open minded statements like I'm working on or I'm learning how to. This small tweak encourages a more dynamic view of you and also opens up to the possibility for change and growth. The former is really labeling who and how you are, and the latter is showing that you are open to growth and can be, can be and do anything that you put your intention into. Number three, focus on what you are, not who you aren't. So instead of getting stuck on who you are. For example, I'm not fit enough. I'm not successful enough. I need you to focus on the qualities that you do have. For example, reminding yourself that you are determined, you are getting stronger. You have made progress, really highlighting those positive traits or the things that you have done or the things that you've accomplished that's going to help so much in terms of you not getting caught up in this negative comparison loop. And it's really going to help to reinforce that healthier self-image. So just because we aren't this one thing, that doesn't mean that we can't value and appreciate the thousand other things that we are right, don't let that one thing diminish everything else that you do have. So if something pops in your head like I'm not that or whatever that might be, I need you to remind yourself of other things that you are. I'm not that, but I am X, Y, and Z and really putting that positive reinforcement in your brain. Number four, Shift from all or nothing thinking. If you're constantly feeling like you're either a complete success or a total failure, it's time to really get rid of this all or nothing thinking. Start really seeing things on a scale instead of extreme. So, for example, if you didn't hit all your goals this week, this doesn't mean that you're failing. It just means that you're making progress in some areas and you're learning in other areas. Shifting this mindset really helps you to see yourself as a work in progress rather than a pass or fail project, which is much kinder and more empowering to yourself because this all or nothing either succeed or failed. This is a very toxic mentality that will eat away at your self-image. The mindset of, okay, I might not have been perfect, but I have another chance next week or I might not have been perfect, but I did get all this other stuff done. And this is a much kinder perspective to view yourself and it will really help to fuel your self image rather than deteriorate it. Number five Remind yourself of your strengths. We are so quick to focus on what we don't like about ourselves, but how often do you actually take the time to celebrate what you do? Like start making it a daily habit to acknowledge your strengths, whether they're physical, their mental, their emotional. Maybe you're a great listener. Maybe you're super organized or you're really kind. Whatever it is, take a minute to remind yourself of those things. One of the easiest ways to do that is to write down three things that you love about yourself at the end of each day. They don't have to be big things. These can be little moments that really made you feel proud or happy. And this is not only going to shift your focus from what's wrong, but also help you to reinforce what is right. And the more you see yourself in a positive light, the stronger your self-image will become. Number six, Limit your negative triggers. We all have that trigger negative feeling about ourselves, whether it's certain situations, it's people or even environments. So take a minute to think about those triggers and what they are for you. So maybe that's scrolling through certain social media accounts or seeing people who constantly criticize you. Whatever it is, once you identify those triggers, you can really start taking steps to limit them. This could mean setting boundaries with people who bring you down, taking social media breaks, avoiding situations that make you feel bad about yourself in the first place. Just remember that it is a-OK to protect your energy and choose what you allow into your life. Number seven Practice Gratitude. Gratitude might sound like this super fluffy word, but honestly, it's one of the best shifts for your mindset. And it can also help so much to improve your self-image When you focus really on what you're thankful for. It's harder to stay stuck in this negative thinking cycles, right? Start your day even if it takes you two minutes, right as you're brushing your teeth. Or for me, I'm in postpartum season as I'm breastfeeding my baby, like starting my day by listing three things that you're grateful for. Even if they're small, this is really going to help set a positive tone for the day and remind you of all the good in your life. This is also a great way to really use gratitude to shift your mindset when you're feeling down about yourself. So instead of focusing on what you don't like, think about everything that you are grateful for in that moment. It can be this simple as appreciating your body for getting you through another day or being thankful for the people who love and support you, whatever it is. That is going to make a huge, huge shift. Number eight, who make time for yourself? A lot of times negative self-image comes from not taking enough time to care for yourself. It's so easy to get caught up in taking care of others or staying busy with work, but making time for yourself is essential when you don't prioritize self-care. It is so easy to feel burnt out, so easy to feel unappreciated or even resentful, which can lead to negative thoughts about yourself. So I want to encourage you to carve out some time each day to do something just for you. Whether that's going for a walk, that's reading, that's journaling, taking a bath, whatever it is, when you are consistently making time for yourself, even if it's five minutes, it's going to reinforce the idea that you are worth taking care of, which builds a more positive self-image over time. Because if you don't believe that you are worthy of good things, no one else will believe that you are either. Right? Your worth really does start with you. Like start treating yourself with respect and care about yourself and care about things that you deserve and nothing less. And just remember that God calls us to care about ourselves. Like he calls us to be a good steward of our body of our life. And that really does involve self care. It doesn't have to be selfish, right? It is as simple as appreciating who we are and taking some time to say, all right, because God made this vessel, I want to do X, Y and Z to make sure that I'm showing up as the best version of myself so that I can give my best to those who are around me and I can serve others in my best capacity. And last but not least. Number nine. Get comfortable with compliments. How often do you brush off compliments or feel awkward when someone says something nice about you? A lot of us do it without even realizing, like, seriously, I'm sure most of us, most of you listening don't know how to respond to a compliment. I'm always so impressed when I see someone just say thank you to a compliment and don't have to justify it or make excuses or talk themselves down to the person who just made the compliment. A simple thank you is all you need to say because you deserve the compliment you deserve for someone to notice great things about you. Don't brush that off by accepting compliments. You're acknowledging that others see good things and you and that can help you to start seeing them in your self as well. And over time. This can really help to boost that self-image. So the next time someone compliments you resist the urge to deflect or downplay it and instead just simply say thank you. Okay, so there you have it. Those are nine underrated ways to build a positive self-image. Let me quickly recap what I talked about. Number one, stop comparing yourself to others. Number two, stop labeling yourself. Number three, focus on what you are, not who you aren't. Number four, Shift from this all or nothing mindset thinking. Number five, remind yourself of your strengths. Number six, limit your negative triggers. Number seven, practice gratitude. Number eight, make time for yourself. Number nine, get comfortable with compliments. If you love this episode, I know you will also love Episode 144. Let's chat about self-worth. I will go ahead and link that in the charts below, but I hope that you found this episode helpful. I love you so much and I will talk to you in the next one. [00:13:46]

Speaker 2: [00:13:56] All right, sister. That's all I got for you today. But I have two things. [00:14:00]

[00:14:01] That I need. [00:14:01][0.2]

[00:14:01] You to do. First thing, if you are not already following me on the gram. Be sure to do so, Julie. A lot better. Yes. It's women in the middle for that daily poser about real talk, healthy tips and tricks and honest accountability to. [00:14:14]

[00:14:14] Keep your mind and heart. [00:14:15]

[00:14:16] In check. The second thing be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world. [00:14:26]

[00:14:26] And I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women. [00:14:29]

[00:14:30] That I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically. [00:14:36]

[00:14:37] Themselves. [00:14:37][

[00:14:38] Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace Israel because you're worth it. [00:14:38]