Lately, I haven't been very positive towards my body. Weight gain, stretch marks, cellulite, and other sources of insecurity have been catching my eye more and more frequently, and I have begun to focus on my flaws increasingly, just like many other people do. Here are some tips I'll be keeping in mind the next time I feel down on my body.

Appreciate what your body can do.

Your body does so many amazing things; it carries out all the activities you perform. Your body keeps you breathing and fights off the germs inside it. Your body allows you to drink coffee, laugh, eat food, and hug the person you love. Your body sweats when you exercise. Your body feels pain and pleasure. Your body does everything for you and it's something we take for granted.

Look at yourself as a whole.

All too often, we only focus on the parts of our bodies we aren't happy with. Whether it be our thighs, stomach, freckles and birth marks, or body hair, we seem to only see the negative. Stop looking at yourself as individual body parts or features, and start looking at yourself as an entire person. When you start looking at your body in its entirety, you'll be able to see the positive, too.

Take a compliment.

I'm so guilty of this. I used to never take a compliment. I'd always shoot them down and make excuses as to why I shouldn't be complimented. But, we all deserve to be complimented. Take the compliment. It will make you feel better about yourself, and it also makes the person who gave you the compliment feel good. It's a win-win situation.

The scale does not define you.

You are so much more than a number. Your weight does not define who you are, what you wear, or determine your attractiveness. You have a body, but that's not all you are. You are a person, just like everyone else. You have a personality. You have dreams and goals. You are not a number. You are an individual.

Take care of your body.

Taking time for yourself. Your body is important, and you need to make sure you take care of it. Make sure you get a good amount of rest. Put healthy foods into your body to supply it with the nutrients it needs. Exercise regularly to keep your body strong. Take mental health days to make sure stress isn't taking a toll on you. Doing these things will help boost your mood and make your body feel better.

Try to give fewer fucks.

We care way too much about what other people think, though most of the time these people do not have any importance in our lives. That being said, stop mulling over what you think people will say and just do you. Wear what you want. Eat what you want. Say what you want. Look they way you want. Do things that make you happy, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't.

Stop comparing yourself to others.

We're all guilty of it. We tell ourselves that other people are more attractive, smarter, friendlier, more charismatic. We tell ourselves that there's always someone better than us. But, you know what? You're pretty great too. We need to stop telling ourselves that we're not good enough just because we think someone is better.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Toxic people suck the life out of you. They take the energy out of every aspect of your life. To restore that energy, surround yourself with positive people. Identify those toxic people, separate yourselves from them, and keep those who make you feel good close by. These people will encourage you to be a better you and will push you to do good things.

It's ok not to love every part of you.

At the end of the day, you may not ever be able to truly say that you love every part of your body. And that's OK. You don't have to lie to yourself and ignore the bad feelings you have. It's ok to not like the way you look, as long as you don't let it consume you and dictate your life. Learning to love yourself starts with finding a way to love what what you don't. It's a long process, so don't feel pressured to immediately love every part of you.