This document provides resources and practices for promoting positive body image, including journaling positive qualities about oneself, replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts, mindful eating practices, and mindfulness body scans. It also lists several organizations and websites that provide further information, workshops, and curricula focused on cultivating body positivity, dismantling unhealthy societal ideals, and empowering youth.

1. My Project
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2. Positive Thinking Practices

3. Journaling
Take 5-10 minutes and write down as many
positive things about yourself as you can. Think
about your personality, abilities, and things
you’re happy your body can do. Don’t stop
writing until you run out of time, treat it like a
brainstorm.

4. Replacing Negative Thoughts
Spend however long you want (an hour, a day,
a week) paying close attention to when you
have negative thoughts about yourself. Do your
best push aside the negative thoughts and
replace them with a positive thoughts. Try to be
as honest with yourself as you can.

5. Constructive Conversation
Notice when those around you talk negatively
about their weight or promote unhealthy dieting.
Instead of engaging in that harmful conversation,
try to say something positive about yourself or
someone else in the conversation, change the
topic, or find somebody more supportive to talk
to.

6. Mindfulness Practices

7. Body Scan
Take 5-10 minutes to do a “body scan”, focusing
on each body part individually, from head to
toe. Feel and appreciate their presence, strength,
and ability. Notice where they are in space and
relax each of your muscles. Pay attention to your
breathing.

8. Mindful Eating
Try to be present and non-judgemental when
eating, and recognize that no food is objectively
“bad”. Attempt to engage all of your senses,
Savor your food and pay attention to how it
makes your body feel as and after you eat it.

9. Other Resources For
Teachers, Students, and
Parents to Learn More

10. About Face
https://about-face.org/
About Face is a Bay Area based organization that
holds workshops, events, and classes targeted towards
female-identifying and non-binary teens. They focus
on breaking down body ideals and racial stereotypes
propagated by the media, and aim to empower and
educate today’s youth.
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11. Body Image Health
http://bodyimagehealth.org/healthy-bodies-curriculum/
The Healthy Bodies Curriculum is a detailed course
curriculum developed by psychotherapist Kathy Kater that
aims to restructure how we think about body image,
especially in the classroom. Her website provides plenty of
classroom activity ideas and other teaching tools to
effectively begin to break down societal beliefs about
weight and health.
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12. UPIT School of Public Health
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/25597/1/Jern_MPH_Essay_FINAL.pdf
This essay provides important background information
about the development of negative body image in girls,
and has many group activities drawn from various
organizations that help students cultivate discussion about
body image. Their curriculum (pgs 41-45) is quite well
developed, While most activities are geared towards middle
schoolers, many can be modified for high school students.
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13. Headspace
https://www.headspace.com/meditation/body-positivity
Headspace has lots of great follow-along meditation
guides, including ones focused on body image,
compassion, and self-esteem.
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Thank You!