According to Psychology Today, body image is the mental representation we construct of what we think we look like, which may or may not bear a resemblance to how others actually see us. Instead, our self-created image is influenced by emotions, mood, early experiences, and parental attitudes, perhaps even moreso than the reflection in the mirror. And whether we like what we see in that mirror has much to do with what society perceives as desirable and what the media perpetuates as normal. Unfortunately “desirable” and “normal” may also be unrealistic for most humans. Consider that on average, we’re bombarded by around 5,000 Photoshop-altered images in a week.
However, the same media that inundates us with the unattainable can be used to fight back. Here are 10 unique instances of men and women successfully using media to revolutionize the way we see ourselves.
Jeff Bridges at Comic Con.Photo by Gage Skidmore via 
Whitney Carpenter with a patient in one of her custom port shirtsAtrium Health 
People at a public library.Image via 
Father and child making origami together.Image via 
Woman takes a bath.Image via 
Older man solving newspaper crossword on a street table.Image via asdf - Photo by Mathias Reding
Happy seniors ride bikes.Image via sdf - Photo by Syda Productions
Men practice mindfulness overlooking the cliffs and ocean.Image via 
Man smiles at dusk.Image via sss - Photo by ridofranz