June Theme: Body Image & Self-Acceptance

Hello beautiful human! This is your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired. Let’s step into this together.

Let’s be real: most of us have opened an app just to scroll for a few minutes, and somehow ended up feeling worse about ourselves. Maybe it’s a picture-perfect influencer in workout gear. Maybe it’s a friend’s vacation post with skin that looks filtered but isn’t. Maybe it’s just the sheer comparison loop that happens the moment we’re online.

This week, we’re diving into something so many of us quietly struggle with: how social media messes with our body image—and what we can do to reclaim our space. You don’t have to give it all up. You just have to get more intentional.

Why Social Media Impacts How We Feel in Our Bodies

Here’s the hard truth: social media isn’t neutral.

Platforms are designed to keep us hooked—and the posts that tend to get the most visibility are the ones that show idealized beauty, thinness, perfection, and productivity. These aren’t just trends. They’re patterns that shape our perception of “normal.”

Multiple studies confirm that even brief exposure to idealized images online is linked to increased body dissatisfaction and appearance anxiety—especially in women (Fardouly, Diedrichs, Vartanian, & Halliwell, 2015; Tiggemann & Slater, 2014).

From an ACT perspective, this creates what we call cognitive fusion—we become entangled with the thought: “I’m not good enough.”
And through the lens of Compassion-Focused Therapy, this pulls us into our threat system, where comparison and shame take the wheel.

But here’s the thing: You are not the problem. The system was built to keep you doubting yourself—and you get to opt out.

“Comparison is the thief of joy, but it’s also a habit we can unlearn.” — Alex Elle

How to Know When It’s Time for a Digital Detox (Or a Feed Refresh)

You don’t have to delete your accounts. But you do need to tune in.

Start by checking in after 10 minutes on Instagram or TikTok. Ask yourself:

• How does my body feel?
• What story am I telling myself about my worth?
• Do I feel closer to who I want to be—or further away?

If you notice tightness in your chest, a sinking in your gut, or a sudden urge to “fix” yourself, it’s your nervous system’s way of waving a flag. That’s information. That’s wisdom.

In ACT, we call this noticing. Noticing gives you a choice. And choice is where the healing begins.

Curating a Kinder Feed: The Unfollow/Re-Follow Audit

Here’s a powerful, self-compassionate practice: audit your feed like it’s your home.
Would you invite this content into your living room every morning?

Try this for the next three days:

1. Unfollow or mute anything that:
   • Makes you feel “less than”
   • Encourages diet culture or body comparison
   • Feeds shame, scarcity, or the pressure to perform
2. Follow accounts that show:
   • Body diversity
   • Joyful movement and intuitive living
   • Messages that align with your values (not your fears)

Some favorites to start with:

• @chr1styharrison
• @thebodyisnotanapology
• @drcolleenreichmann
• @brenebrown
• @alex_elle

This isn’t about curating a perfect feed. It’s about creating a space where you can breathe.

“Be mindful of the content you consume. It’s not just entertainment—it’s programming.” — Yasmine Cheyenne

Reclaiming Your Space with Values-Driven Intention

In ACT, we talk a lot about values-based living.
Instead of asking, “How do I look today?” we ask, “How do I want to show up today?”

What would it look like to use your social media space to reflect your actual values?

Maybe that means:

• Sharing messy, real-life moments instead of filtered ones
• Liking and commenting on posts that reflect kindness, creativity, connection
• Setting boundaries with apps that drain you (time limits, log-off rituals)

Compassion-Focused Therapy also reminds us that compassion is not soft—it’s courageous. Setting boundaries with your digital life is a radical act of self-kindness.

A Pre-Scroll Ritual: Anchor Before You Enter the Feed

Before you open an app, try this:

• Sit still for 10 seconds
• Place a hand on your chest or stomach
• Inhale deeply
• Ask yourself: “What do I need right now?”
• Say: “I choose connection, not comparison.”

That tiny pause can interrupt the spiral. It gives you a moment to choose intention over habit.

Final Thoughts

Social media isn’t going anywhere—but your power in how you use it is bigger than you think. You are allowed to protect your peace. You are allowed to unfollow shame. You are allowed to make your digital world a place of reflection, not rejection.

You are already enough. You do not need to earn your worth online—or anywhere else.

“Your self-worth is not found in a mirror, on a scale, or in a ‘like’ count.” — Brené Brown

Next week, we’ll explore something equally powerful: Intuitive Eating and how to reconnect with your body’s real needs (not your inner critic’s checklist).

You’ve got so much strength within you—never forget that. Keep shining, and give yourself grace along the way.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 or text 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. To find a therapist for ongoing care, check out Psychology Today.