I know I’m not alone in the struggle to always feel good about myself. And far too often, I have a bad day because I don’t feel like I look good. And you know what? This shouldn’t happen! I want to live my life by more than what my outside body looks like and I want people to appreciate me for more than my looks, so shouldn’t I treat my own self that way too? I’ve come up with a few rules for myself over the years for when I feel the negative self-talk coming through. I don’t always get it right, but it definitely helps!
Write down what you’re good at.
This might seem silly, but it totally works! Make a list, hang it on the bathroom mirror, keep it in a journal, or screenshot it on your home screen. Just make it loud and proud! Remind yourself that you are more than your looks. What people love about you is the fact that you have a funky laugh and you can do the splits, and you are really passionate about storytelling. Whatever makes you, you-celebrate it!
Remind yourself that pictures are just pictures.
We’ve all been there. “I look so fat!” or “My hair looks terrible.” Take a step back and remember that that was a still frame of a moment in time. Blame it on the angle. Blame it on the lighting. Pictures are just pictures. The 360 degree view of you in action is so much more beautiful, because it is composed of your actions, your quirks, and your heart.
Don’t be a mold.
I catch myself doing this all the time. I do my hair, my makeup, and my clothes just like everyone around me, which is totally fine! But, sometimes, I miss out on the fact that if I look like everyone else than I’m not really unique. God created each of us in such intricate ways and sometimes we forget that by trying to conform to a standard of “society’s beauty.”
When in doubt, run it out.
...or whatever you love to do. When you are feeling really down in the dumps, don’t let yourself sulk. It really only makes it worse. Get up and do something active. Create something beautiful. Engage your mind. Do the things that make you happy. It will remind you why life is so much bigger than your dress size.
Surround yourself with cheerleaders.
If you are around people who are constantly concerned with their looks, you will be too. Surround yourself with people who have beautiful hearts instead. Make friendships with people who care about your personality and strengths. Hang around people who make you feel good about yourself.
List things you're grateful for every day.
At the end of the day, we are extremely blessed people. But, we get this so messed up in our rat-race to please ourselves. This is really simple to do. Make it a part of your bedtime routine. Write out three things that you are thankful for each day. It will change your perspective on life and again remind yourself of the bigger picture.
Just as it takes work to learn a new skill or start a new diet, it takes work to rewire our brains. We are so used to beating ourselves up and feeling bad for when we don’t feel we look beautiful. Try incorporating these into your life and watch your confidence grow. You deserve it. You are beautiful.