Body Image and Internal Locus: Worth Beyond Appearance

BY NICOLE LAU

The Psychology of Internal Locus: Why Most Suffering is Optional - Module 3: Adolescent Internal Locus Building (Ages 13-18)

Your teenager's body is changing. Puberty brings curves, muscles, acne, growth spurts, awkwardness. And society tells them their worth depends on how their body looks. Be thin but not too thin. Be muscular but not too muscular. Be attractive but not too sexual. Be perfect. And if your body doesn't match impossible standards - you're worthless.

This is body image as external locus. Worth that depends on appearance. Value that fluctuates with weight, skin, shape, attractiveness. Identity built on how you look, not who you are. And it's destroying teenagers - eating disorders, body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, self-harm, all rooted in the belief that body equals worth.

But here's the truth: your body is not your worth. Your body is the vessel that carries your inherently valuable self. Your appearance doesn't determine your value. You are worthy in every body, at every size, with every feature. This is internal locus. This is worth beyond appearance. This is body acceptance as radical act of self-love.

Why Body Image Becomes Worth

How appearance becomes identity:

Puberty Changes Everything: Body becomes central focus. Suddenly aware of how you look, how you compare, how others perceive you.

Cultural Beauty Standards: Society has narrow definition of attractive. If you don't fit, you're told you're less valuable.

Social Media Amplification: Filtered, edited perfection everywhere. Real bodies feel inadequate compared to impossible standards.

Peer Comparison: Constantly comparing bodies. Who's prettier, thinner, more muscular. Worth feels relative.

Romantic Attention: Being desired feels like being valuable. Not being desired feels like being worthless.

Comments and Teasing: One comment about weight, skin, features can create lifelong body shame.

Control in Chaos: Adolescence is chaotic. Body feels like something you can control. Control over appearance becomes control over worth.

The External Locus Body Image Trap

When worth depends on appearance:

Constant Body Monitoring: Always checking mirror, weighing, measuring. Body becomes obsession.

Worth Fluctuates with Weight: Lose weight, feel valuable. Gain weight, feel worthless. Worth on scale.

Comparison Spiral: Everyone else's body is better. You're always less attractive, less worthy.

Eating Disorders: Control over food, weight, body as control over worth. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating.

Body Dysmorphia: Can't see body accurately. Obsessed with perceived flaws. Body becomes enemy.

Avoidance: Won't go to beach, pool, gym because body isn't good enough. Life limited by body shame.

Self-Harm: Punishing body for not being perfect. Body as target of worthlessness rage.

Internal Locus Body Image

Worth separate from appearance:

Body as Vessel: My body carries me through life. It's not my worth, it's my vehicle.

Worth Is Inherent: I'm valuable in every body, at every size, with every feature. Appearance doesn't determine worth.

Body Acceptance: This is my body. It's not perfect. It doesn't need to be. I'm still worthy.

Function Over Form: I appreciate what my body can do, not just how it looks.

Comparison Awareness: Their body is theirs. Mine is mine. Worth isn't comparative.

Self-Compassion: I treat my body with kindness, not punishment. It deserves care.

Identity Beyond Body: I am so much more than how I look. My worth is who I am, not what I look like.

Teaching Body Acceptance

How to build internal locus body image:

1. Separate Worth from Appearance: Your worth has nothing to do with how you look. You're inherently valuable in every body.

2. Model Body Acceptance: Don't criticize your own body. Show them what body acceptance looks like.

3. Challenge Beauty Standards: Beauty standards are arbitrary and impossible. They're designed to make you feel inadequate.

4. Focus on Function: What can your body do? Run, dance, hug, create? That's what matters.

5. Diversify Media: Expose them to diverse bodies. All sizes, shapes, colors, abilities.

6. No Body Talk: Don't comment on their body or others' bodies. Bodies aren't topics.

7. Address Comments: If someone comments on their body, repair. What they said about your weight is not true. Your worth isn't your size.

Practical Body Acceptance Practices

Daily practices for internal locus body image:

Body Gratitude: Thank you, body, for carrying me today. For breathing, moving, healing.

Mirror Work: Look in mirror and say I'm worthy in this body. Practice acceptance.

Joyful Movement: Move body for joy, not punishment. Dance, play, explore.

Intuitive Eating: Eat when hungry, stop when full. Trust body's signals, not external rules.

Clothing That Fits: Wear clothes that fit and feel good now. Don't wait to be thin enough.

Affirmations: My worth is not my appearance. I am valuable in every body. My body is my home.

You Are Worthy in Every Body

This is the message your teenager needs: You are worthy in every body. Your worth has nothing to do with how you look. Your body is not your value, it's your vessel. You are inherently, completely, absolutely valuable. In every body. At every size. With every feature. Always.

This is body acceptance. This is internal locus. This is worth beyond appearance.