A body positivity presentation has given students a chance to seek answers about social media, dealing with negative thoughts and feeling better about their appearance.
Students have been encouraged to embrace their bodies and to take control of the messaging that influences how they feel about themselves.
These were the key messages from a presentation offered to students in Years 7 and 8 on Wednesday this week.
It included a video presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with Taryn Brumfitt, the co-leader of health promotion charity The Embrace Collective.
The 2023 Australian of the Year created the Embrace Kids video with the aim of building better body image for young people.
She told students to think about all the amazing things their bodies could do.
“We get about 28,000 days to live, so if we can live those days not at war with our body but respecting, nourishing, moving and enjoying our body, that’s what we’re here to do,” Ms Brumfitt said.
“Remember your bodies are not ornaments in life, they are the vehicles to your dreams.”
The right to ‘block, mute, delete, repeat’
BRSC’s presentation was coordinated by Years 7 and 8 lead teacher Danielle Thiele as part of a regional tour by the charity.
Students took the opportunity to ask their own questions after watching the video presentation.
Josh asked for strategies to deal with the impact of social media.
Ms Brumfitt said it was important to be discerning and to take control of your own social media usage.
“If anyone is making you feel bad about how you look, you have the opportunity to block, mute, delete, repeat,” she said.
“I want everybody, young and old, to know that you are in control of your social media.”
The importance of reframing
Student Ava asked for top tips on embracing your body.
“I think the first would be about body appreciation and focussing on its functioning and the incredible things your body does for you,” Ms Brumfitt said.
“Also reframe. I used to give myself a hard time about my legs having cellulite or stretch marks but the reframe is ‘oh my gosh, these legs have run two marathons’.”
‘You’re not meant to hate your body’
Xavier asked what advice Ms Brumfitt would give to her younger self.
“I would say it’s not your life’s purpose to be at war with your body, you’re not meant to hate your body or be worrying about it or wanting to change it,” she said.
Indee wanted to know how to stay positive even when things felt hard.
“What helps me the most is moving my body, if I get stressed, I just need to get out, go for a run, go for a hike, do something, just to get out of my head,” Ms Brumfitt said.
Be your own cheerleader
Ky asked how to deal with negative thoughts.
“We have in our heads either a cheerleader or a critic and as young people and adults you can either dial up or dial back that language,” Ms Brumfitt said.
“You might have hopes and goals and dreams to do particular things and having a positive relationship with yourself, to back yourself, will help you get there.”
And final message? Be kind.
And Xavier asked what her key message to the world was.
“I big message to the world would be about being kind,” Ms Brumfitt said.
“I spend a lot of time with adults who have experienced body image trauma for their whole life and it’s because of something someone said to them when they were young, when they were your age.”
