Our mind-body connection is beautiful but also fragile. In order to protect it, we have to decide whose opinions or comments we listen to and what to do with the negative ones that cross through our doorway unprompted. We don’t always have control over what we see or hear — hello, Internet — so for those moments especially, here’s a list of positive quotes that can help you hold onto what’s important on the hardest days.
When you want to appreciate your body…
“This body had carried me through a hard life. It looked exactly the way it was supposed to.” ― Veronica Roth, Carve the Mark
“My body contains me and that’s enough” ― Julie Murphy
“Lines can be the etchings of your biggest smiles, the frowns you learned from, the proof that you change and grow.” ― Eleanor Gordon-Smith
“Your body is an amazing self-regulating, self-correcting wonder.” ― Amy Leigh Mercree, The Mood Book: Crystals, Oils, and Rituals to Elevate Your Spirit
"I say this for any other person whose appearance has been changed with time, illness or circumstance — it's okay to live in your present body without treating it as transitional. I am, and I'm really enjoying it." — Lena Dunham
When you want to strengthen your mind-body connection…
“The body I have shouldn't change how deserving I am of my dreams. - Millie” ― Julie Murphy, Pumpkin
“To all the girls that think you’re ugly because you’re not a size 0, you’re the beautiful one. It’s society who’s ugly.” ― Marilyn Monroe
“It’s beautiful to feel positive about your body, but it’s also fine that you don’t look like everybody else...or you have a different shape of this, or your legs are thicker, or your breasts are larger, or your breasts are smaller, or whatever the thing might be.” — Alicia Keys
When self-love is kicking in…
“Pretty much the strongest, most badass, and rebellious thing that you can do is to love your body in this world that screams at you that you shouldn't.” ― Laura Bates, Girl Up
“The reality was my life wasn't miserable because I was curvy; I was miserable because I thought I'd be happier if I were thinner.” ― Brittany Gibbons, The Clothes Make the Girl (Look Fat)?
“As for the rest of you, remember this: YOU ARE WANTED. Big, small, tall, short, pretty, plain, friendly, shy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself. Especially yourself.” ― Jennifer Niven, Holding Up the Universe
"When a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier." — Diane Von Furstenberg
“I’m comfortable in my body and I don’t mind putting it on display... Honestly, I like how unique it is. My big arms, my bigger hands, these long legs — I love being different. If everybody was the same, it’d be a boring-ass world.” — Britney Griner
"I'm all about body positivity and self-love because I believe that we can save the world if we first save ourselves." - Lizzo
When you want to embrace that you are one of a kind…
"Each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms." — Gloria Steinem
“Stop trying to fix your body. It was never broken.”—Eve Ensler
“You define beauty for yourself, society doesn’t define your beauty. Your spirit and your faith defines your beauty.”—Lady Gaga
“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.”—Emma Stone
"Don’t waste so much time thinking about how much you weigh. There is no more mind-numbing, boring, idiotic, self-destructive diversion from the fun of living." — Meryl Streep
"I realize everybody wants what they don’t have. But at the end of the day, what you have inside is much more beautiful than what’s on the outside."— Selena Gomez
No matter where you are on your journey towards self-love, allow yourself grace, patience, and a lot of positive reinforcement.
Vivian Nunez is a writer, content creator, and host of Happy To Be Here podcast. Her award-winning Instagram community has created pathways for speaking on traditionally taboo topics, like mental health and grief. You can find Vivian @vivnunez on Instagram/TikTok and her writing on both Medium and her blog, vivnunez.com.