Nothing to Hide

I imagine for the most part many of those who visit this site have probably come across it through a search engine. Perhaps for some, the thought of living life clothes free has some appeal for you. Maybe you even spent part of your day naked around your own home. However, the thought of spending time naked around others in a social setting is something you can’t even imagine doing.

For a great many people, this is due to poor body image acceptance. According to a poll conducted by Psychology Today magazine, 24 percent of women and 17 percent of men say they would give up more than three years of life to be thinner. Sociologists who study the mostly western-world phenomenon of poor body image attribute the problem to a variety of factors, including media and cultural influences. The advertising industry ties the already complex issue of body image with materialism. A slender body is associated with wealth, health, and attractiveness while a heavier body is associated with sloth, indulgence, and a lack of self-control.

There are some real dangers associated with poor body image acceptance. When someone has a poor body image, they will try to find external validation to feel better about themselves. Poor body image can lead to crash dieting and excessive exercise which in turn can lead to poor nutrition, injuries, depression and eventually poor health. Eating disorders are often the result of having a negative body image.

Psychologists tell us that one of the best means of developing a more positive body image acceptance is to surround oneself with supportive friends whose focus is not on looks. Other people can make the biggest difference in our lives by being mentors and leading by example. Social nudity is one excellent place to find these kinds of friends. One of the key aspects of naturism is a strong emphasis on promoting positive body image. Spending time naked in the presence of others often has very positive benefits with respect to improving a person’s body image and self esteem. It helps one be able to let go of misconceptions or distorted messages and expectations that you have been learned through the media’s portrayal of what people should look like. It helps people to feel less self conscious about their bodies and in turn learn to become more accepting of themselves as well as others for who they are and not what everyone else expects them to be. I know this is true because I have actually experienced it. The first thing you will discover when attending a nudist social gathering is that bodies come in all shapes and sizes. You will find people older than you and people younger, some larger and some smaller. But the amazing thing is you will find most of us look pretty much the same without clothing. Clothing hides the body and makes it easy for us to live under the false illusion that our body just doesn’t measure up to that of others. The human body is beautiful in all its forms, at any age during the life cycle.

Have you ever suffered from poor body image? Are you open minded enough to consider trying social nudity? This year why not resolve to learn to become more comfortable with your nudity? Perhaps you might just become comfortable enough to explore spending time naked with others in a relaxed, non-sexual social environment and in the process learn that you really have nothing to hide.