Think yourself beautiful
Forget botox or plastic surgery. Simply change your attitude towards your body
We live in a world of media frenzy and for some of us that automatically means the pressure is on.
We are constantly force-fed images of slim, beautiful beings. Any young girl, looking at herself in her bedroom mirror with no airbrushing, special lighting and professional make-up, can easily feel very bad about herself.
As adults, we may have figured out a mature way of dealing with these unrealistic icons, but the younger generation hasn’t. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and other glamorous socialites are seen as role models by girls as young as 13!
One of the world’s leading experts in body image and the importance of positive thinking is Dr Linda Papadopoulos, a counselling and health psychologist.
Among the many books she has written is Mirror, Mirror which focuses on how to revolutionise your body image by simply changing the way you think. Through her extensive work with the media, she’s also trusted by many celebrities. They go to her for counselling with their own body image problems!
Not only is she Cosmopolitan magazine’s resident psychologist and contributing editor, but Dr. Linda – as she prefers to be called – is also a media psychologist featured frequently on shows like Richard & Judy, The Big Breakfast, GMTV. She gave an insightful commentary on the UK version of the television phenomenon Big Brother and has appeared as an expert psychologist on VH-1’s Celebrity Fit Club.
“I would fly to LA from Canada every other weekend. It was exhausting!” she says.
She has helped large corporations such as Dior, Tate & Lyle, Diageo and Camelot by giving psychological advice and support when they produce and market new products. She often gives specialist lectures at universities and medical schools in England and throughout the world and is the founder and director of the successful Programme in Counselling Psychology at the London Metropolitan University. She was appointed Reader in 2001 and was nominated for the Annual Counselling Psychology Award by the British Psychology Society.
Oh, and she’s also married and has a five-year-old daughter!
Dr Linda has Greek-Cypriot parents and was in Cyprus earlier this month to give a seminar on the importance of sleep.
Her lifestyle may be hectic, but you wouldn’t know it. She looks and sounds relaxed. She obviously practises what she preaches.
In her book, she uses cognitive behaviour therapy to help us on the road to a body that we love. This has nothing to do with diets or changing the shape of your body and everything to do with changing your attitude towards your body.
“Women are very prone to this distortion because they see their bodies as a set of individual parts to be judged,” she explains. Men are far more likely to view their bodies as a whole and therefore are more satisfied with the way they look.
“The fact that celebrity culture has women focusing on these unrealistic images, picking at parts that are airbrushed and therefore look good, is sad,” she says. “Women and girls don’t have any good role models to look for inspiration whereas men do!”
Plastic surgery is a major theme of her books and lectures.
“Seeing no beauty in ageing is again something that is embedded into our minds because of celebrity culture. Botox injections are something that women now do on their lunch breaks. If that isn’t bad enough, you can also get them on special offer like buy one, get one free!”
Despite her busy lifestyle and ever-expanding career, Dr Linda is adamant about her health and raising her child with a healthy outlook on life.
“I haven’t exercised in years,” she admits. “But I do eat healthily and try and relax as much as possible. Obviously chocolates can be tempting. If my daughter eats some, I’m OK with that, but I try and keep her on a healthy road by not offering her a cookie as a treat, for instance.”
Positive thinking and a healthy body image are two crucial elements for happiness. “You know, happiness is not a bonus for the rich and beautiful. It’s something that can be obtained by anyone. Research has shown that happiness is as important as food, water and sunshine, so people should be seeking it.”
And because Dr Linda can’t really reach out and help every single one of us, next year she will be releasing a line of endorphine-based creams to help you feel and look better.
“It’s all about linking the mind and body and feeling good about ourselves therefore beautiful in the eyes of others.”
Do her theories work? Judging from the way Dr Linda looks, I’m guessing they do.
(Mirror, Mirror is published Hodder Mobius)
Dr Linda’s tips for having a healthy and happy outlook on life
l Do not expect happiness to land in your lap! Change your perspective on life and stop focusing on the bad things. If you tend to look at things from a very black and white point of view, you’re not really doing yourself any good. Seek happiness by positive thinking.
l Don’t compare yourself to others! You simply have to realise that you are you and be thankful for what you are given. By concentrating on looking like someone else, you are losing your focus. It needs to be about you and who you are; what looks good on you.
l Be good to people! This is something my parents always told me. By being positive and at peace with yourself, you are also enabling yourself to be kind and nice to people and that can make a difference to you and them.
