Have you ever looked in the mirror and the first thing that comes to your mind is "ew?" Well, that is something that needs to stop today. Going through high school, that was my daily morning routine before going to school, and most girls that I went to school with, including my friends, also went through this. To this day, some still are. It took me until I got to high school to realize that my body is okay and not something I should be ashamed of. For me to get to this point I had to do these 5 things every morning and night.
1. Think of one good thing every morning.
Every morning when you're looking into the mirror, do not look at everything as an issue. Give yourself a compliment to start the day. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you have nice eyes or your teeth seem whiter. Complimenting yourself is the number one way to begin the road of gaining more self confidence and more self esteem. This will slowly begin to have you compliment every part of your body.
2. Come up with a saying to tell yourself
This idea I learned from Demi Lovato: come up with a saying. You can make it up or get it from someone else, and when you begin to feel low or you're not having a good day, say it to yourself. The saying that I have I found on Instagram is from Eleanor Roosevelt: " No one can make you inferior without your consent." I even have this saying tattooed on my outer right thigh. This way I am able to see it, especially on the area of my body I am still not too fond of. I always think about this saying when I don't feel good about myself and it makes me feel better.
3. Listen to confident music.
Music is nature's remedy. It is commonly know for people who have some issues to listen to music to feel better about themselves. If you are having a really bad day, put on some music-- good feeling music or an artist that you love. For me, I love listening to Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, and James Bay. Listening to these three artist I always calm down and relax. It is always better when you can listen to music that makes you feel good, and want to get up and dance.
4. Know that no one cares
It is commonly known in our brains that what we focus on more is something that others will not focus on. That is how our brains work. So, if you have a bit more of a tummy, more thighs, more arms, or anything, and you begin to focus on it more and more, that is the area no one is actually looking at. Do not think that everyone around you is staring at the pimple on your chin because they actually are not.
5. Something you love
Do something you love. Do not keep bringing yourself down because otherwise you will forget who you really are and what you really love. When you feel self-conscious don't let it get you down--go do something that you love. It may be hard to get up to do that, but trust me, it's worth it. Go do what you love. I love riding horses, and once I get up, get my mind in the right place, and then ride, I feel good. It is something I love and something that no one can take away from me.
It is time for you to stop looking in the mirror and thinking "ew." It is time for you to get up, look into the mirror, and say what you love about yourself. It is time to be body positive.
