Body Ideals

The outside body was a reflection of one's interior to understand what was happening inside for health and balance. Well-being meant being able to harmonize one's body in relation to dynamic relations between vital substances, human organs and one's environment to live as long as possible. The immune system and microbiome are contemporary examples. They help to understand human bodies in relation to entities such as bacteria, microbes or pathogens. These offer key opportunities to reframe body ideals that engage vitality from within, such as metabolic health, rather than focus solely on externalities or ideal representations. We are in dire need of healthy bodies, societies and environments. We come in all shapes and features that are desirable and beautiful. By caring for healthy bodies, placing more value on internal vitality, which takes into account living in relation to our environment and each other, we might be able to experience better health and collective well-being in this century. We can begin to heal by looking within ourselves. We can thrive by seeing vitality together.