It is also important to recognize what you can and cannot change about your body. In some cases, it is relatively straightforward to change the aspect of your appearance that you dislike. For example, changing your eating habits and taking up an exercise program can shed pounds if you are unhappy with your weight.

In other cases, achieving physical change may be more difficult. If you dislike the shape of your nose, your only real options are to undergo plastic surgery to have it altered or to change your perspective on your nose.

For the things that you can change, focus on establishing goals and creating a plan for achieving them. If you want to shed pounds, think about ways to improve how you eat and start or intensify an exercise regimen. Think as concretely as possible about these goals, but without using negative self-talk.

For example, you may ask the following questions:

• What foods should I eliminate from my diet?
• Where can I learn about healthier menu items?
• What types of exercise activities do I enjoy?

It is crucial to set a timeframe for these changes, and to put into place methods of measuring your progress. The more specific you can get the better. Don’t say, “I want to lose weight”; instead, say, “I want to lose 1 pound a week for the next three months.”