What does it mean to ‘love the skin you’re in’?

Imagine how it would feel to not live in the shadow of self-criticism over how you look. This is essentially what it means to love the skin you’re in.

I live in a city where, in summer, all types of people with their unique bodies flock in their thousands to the public outdoor swimming pools. For me, every visit to my local pool is a reminder of how diverse human bodies really are in their appearance. 

Everyone is there to enjoy the sunshine and cool water, not to care about what others think of their bodies.

Women show their battle scars: breasts missing through cancer, stretch marks from childbirth. Are they cowering or creeping about being ashamed? Noooo! 

Cellulite is abundant and normal. And the whole gamut of chest size is there. All types and ages of mature women go topless without a hint of embarrassment. Yes, granny goes topless too (80 year old ladies are are soooo over what people think of them).

For me, this scene is a great lesson in self-acceptance and appreciation and inspired me to write these 25 affirmations to help women change their internal dialogue. We know it’s easier said than done though.

As Lou Stokes rightly points out in her article 3 Ways to Start Loving the Skin You’re in:

We are continuously being told how we should love ourselves and our bodies, at the same time being bombarded with subliminal messages everywhere telling us we are not enough. It’s so messed up!

The good news is that your words do have the power to change how you feel. So stop wasting time with negative self-talk and start speaking to yourself and your body in a loving way today.

25 affirmations to combat negative self-talk about your appearance

 1 – I don’t sacrifice my mental health for a perfect body that doesn’t exist.

 2 – I respect my body as an individual and refuse to hurt it with negativity.

 3 – Self-care is more important to me than what others think of my appearance.

4 – I choose to focus on how my body feels inside, not how it looks on the outside.

5 – My skin is amazing. I love how it protects me and heals itself.

6 – I love every cell of my body because every cell of my body has the gift of life within it.

7 – I appreciate my strong legs that continue to carry me through life’s ups and downs.

8 – I focus on my health, and not what other people think I should look like.

9 – I appreciate the energy flowing through my body, giving me life.

10 – My body is a miracle and a gift.

11 – My [insert body part] is a miracle and a gift.

12 – Write your own

I appreciate/love my [X*] + [reason to appreciate it]

*This could be your right forefinger, your spleen, or whatever you want. Listen to Nina Simone for inspiration…

Let me tell ya what I’ve got
That nobody’s gonna take away
I got my hair on my head
I got my brains, I got my ears
I got my eyes, I got my nose
I got my mouth, I got my smile
I got my tongue, I got my chin
I got my neck, I got my boobies
I got my heart, I got my soul
I got my back, I got my sex
I got my arms, I got my hands
I got my fingers, got my legs
I got my feet, I got my toes
I got my liver, got my blood
Got life, I got my life

YEAH!!!

A-hem… Where were we? Ah yes, affirmations…

13 – I am the beholder of beauty, therefore I define beauty for myself.

14 – My emotional strength, kindness and reliability are more important than my looks will ever be.

15 – Every day, I get to love my body for its uniqueness, aliveness and beauty.

16 – I admire ageing women for the wisdom that shows on their faces and I aspire to be beautifully wise.

17 – My wit and humour are attractive qualities that only get better with age.

18 – I am that woman who feels great in her body and doesn’t feel the need to change anything.

19 – My body is me. I do not apologise for how my body looks in the minds of others.

20 – My body is my best friend, always there for me, supporting me through life’s changes and challenges.

21 – I am a work of art in progress, and I appreciate the journey of becoming the best version of myself.

22 – I celebrate and nurture the things that make me uniquely me.

23 – My wisdom is an attractive quality that grows year on year.

24 – I am more than my looks; my intelligence, kindness, and strength shine through in everything I do.

25 – And last but by no means least, never forget:

Happiness is the no.1 most attractive quality in humans

Write your favourite quotes on a post-it, stick them to the mirror and repeat daily!