How Taking Photos Of Myself In The Nude, Helped To Build My Confidence - By Curtis Bryant
If you have always loved your body and the skin you're in. Please stop reading this and write a book about how you did it.
Because I've never met someone, who hasn't had critiques about their body. At some point in their life.
There are so many reasons why we can dislike our bodies. Maybe you were teased like me, maybe you struggled with comparisons and were able to break your entire body down negatively. Or maybe you were critiqued by family and friends, about how they thought you were either too skinny or too fat. -- Whatever the reason, falling in love with one's body is not easy at all. It's a constant journey and in a social media world, it's harder. Because it is so easy to compare ourselves to others subconsciously.
As I've mentioned, I was personally teased as a kid. Puberty hadn't hit early enough and neither did my confidence. I had no idea how to stand up for myself. Being teased in middle school, caused many years of insecurities. Some of which try to reappear till this day. For many years, I feared taking off my shirt anywhere. My pre-teen self spent many, if not all trips to the beach with my parents, going into the water with my shirt on. Coming out the water with the shirt on and yeah you guessed it... Drying, with that same shirt on. It was that serious people.
Fast forward into my early 20's after puberty, finally came to pay me a visit. Making me taller and slimmer than I had ever been. I got a tattoo on my left forearm, which reads "Don't Feed The Model". This then popular statement, thanks to an Urban Outfitters T-shirt. Actually had nothing to do with modeling. But instead it was a reminder, to never feed into the negativity of others again.
How much negativity have you recently digested? -- If you ask yourself this question and it's anything more than you'd like. I have a fun and personal way to encourage some self love about your body and all of it's glory.
I began my personal fitness journey many years ago but I'm sure many of you could attest to, it's not always to be consistent. During one of the "down seasons" (that's what we'll call it). I began to take photos of myself in the nude. It wasn't everyday but before and after my mandatory evening showers, I would take a photo of myself. -- It got easier over time. The first few photos quickly made me see every flaw. But eventually, I began to like what I see.
Today I can confidently take a photo and not beat myself up, like I once did. I'm committed to reminding myself that my body is constantly growing and changing. And all of that growth and change are in my power. You have that same power.
I challenge you to take photos of yourself in the nude for the next 21 days. It takes 21 days to form a new habit. Why not create a habit of self love? Remember, these photos are for you and you only. If you decide to share them after the 21 days. In the great words of Ms. Tabitha Brown "That's Your Business"
