On the topic of body image, I think I've always been pretty realistic about how I see myself.
I think most of us care a lot about how other people see us. However, I don't think changing this is the solution to better self image. If people esteem you but you don't, you'll never be satisfied.
I like this thread, but most people who are insecure about their body image have the opportunity to find out that lots of others are in similiar situations and have different approaches to deal with it. That's why I want to contribute to a thread like this!
To be honest, when most people say "self image" they're more preoccupied by how they are perceived by other people. If other people like them/find them attractive, this leads to them believing this. But then the moment you lose that attention, you're prone to feeling shit about yourself.
In my opinion, the only way to really have a realistic {if not fantastic} self image is to know what you look like and care about it for your own sake. To actually care about how you look when you go out. This is pretty damn hard.
I am pretty pre-occupied sometimes about how people perceive me as a person. Not just my body, but my personality/character etc. I think the way I dress is important to be give the right impressions of me and also to draw attention to the right things. I'm pretty calculated in the way I dress/act in some respects. I know I look good in certain colours and clothing types, and I stick to them. I don't dress in certain ways because I know it gives an impression I don't want.
I'm pretty okay with my body mostly because I realised that it's the only one I got. Sometimes the rest of me gets me down, but I try not to indulge in self-pity because I could never be anyone else besides me even if I tried. Don't fuss over what you can't change.
All in all, I have gathered that appearing confident, well-dressed, self-assured, or polite all help in creating a really good impression. These things really help if you know that you don't have a smoking looks.
[hurrr serious post]
[edit: this is the only forum I'd feel comfortable posting seriously because I love you people]
