Why Does Body Image Change Over Time?

I think one of the biggest reasons body image changes over time is because life changes over time.

Different experiences affect each of us in different ways, and what impacts one person may not impact another. That's why it's so important to stay connected to who you actually are instead of who you think you should be or who you believe other people want you to be.

One of the biggest influences on body image is aging.

There is a constant message telling us that we should look younger, stay younger, or somehow avoid getting older altogether. Feeling healthy is one thing, but there is often pressure to dress a certain way, look a certain way, or maintain an appearance from a different stage of life.

I also think our body image changes because our self-perception changes.

As we mature, we're continually trying to understand who we are. Life today feels much more fluid than it once did, and that ongoing process of figuring ourselves out naturally affects how we see our bodies and what we think they should look like.

While our bodies certainly change over time, I believe the bigger change is the meaning we assign to those changes.

Gray hair, wrinkles, injuries, disabilities, and other physical changes don't automatically carry meaning. We give them meaning based on our experiences, expectations, and the messages we've absorbed throughout our lives.

That also means our body image can improve even if our body doesn't change very much.

Body image is ultimately about perception.

If we decide to begin seeing ourselves differently, we can start building a new relationship with ourselves regardless of what we currently look like. As someone living with cerebral palsy, I know many people would look at my situation differently than I do. I'm grateful for the mobility and activity I'm able to enjoy, and that perspective shapes how I see myself.

We can change our perception in a moment. Building that new perception takes time.

Major life events also influence body image because they often become labels we place on ourselves.

Weight loss, pregnancy, injury, disability, becoming a parent, changing careers, or losing someone we love all remind us that life is constantly moving forward. Those experiences can change how we see ourselves, both inside and out, if we begin defining ourselves by them.

The encouraging part is that body image doesn't have to remain the same.

If you're discouraged because you don't see yourself the way you once did, remember that there are wonderfully beautiful, attractive things about you, inside and out. You just may not have decided to see them yet.

That doesn't mean turning every negative thought into a positive one.

It means looking at yourself as a whole and recognizing that even the things you've viewed as obstacles may have helped develop your character, resilience, and substance.

When you begin to notice one of those qualities, you can start noticing another, and then another.

That's how you begin the process of building yourself up.

As life continues to change, your body image will continue to evolve.

The question isn't whether it will change.

The question is whether you'll intentionally choose how you want to see yourself as it does.

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