Okay, so I know what you’re thinking … Not another article on loving yourself, right?!
Here’s the thing though, we live in a world where admiring others is upfront and personal; we see the best of others through their Instagram feed and frown upon our own lives for being less perfect, less picturesque, less admirable, less successful … just LESS.
It’s so easy to get caught up in others’ “perfect” lives. We seem to think that good enough only comes naturally to those who have it all; the killer body, the beautiful home, the perfect partner, and a career that you can only dream of … Our constant comparison to others and the crazy amount of pressure we put on ourselves to achieve perfection is exhausting, and quite frankly, boring.
Melissa McCarthy, confident “big girl” of the silver screen, says that she’s never felt the need to change and always thought that if her husband wanted someone different, he should pick someone else. Inspiring, don’t you think?
There’s a reason why self-respect, self-love and self-worth all start with “self”; turns out it’s an inside job! So, never be ashamed of who you are, or of the body that carried you though the greatest, hardest journey of your life thus far.
Not sure on how to jump-start your journey to self-acceptance? Here we go:
- Make a list of people you admire, people that make a difference. Are they all supermodels? (I bet they’re not!) Likely your list will be chock full of smart, funny, creative and confident people. And hey, aren’t you a couple of those things yourself?
- Reframe your thinking. Focus on health and fitness, rather than certain body parts. Move your gorgeous body every single day and nourish it with healthy, delicious food.
- Embrace you quirks. You are one of 7 billion perfectly imperfect humans!
- Give up the need for approval from others. “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be people who hates peaches” – Dita von Teese.
- Accept yourself where you are right now. Recognise that beauty, health and strength come in all shapes and sizes.
- Learn more. Take a class to boost your confidence.
- Make a top ten list of things that you like about yourself – things that aren’t related to how much you weigh or what you look like.
- Find your happy place and visit it often.
- Be gentle to yourself. Forgive yourself for mistakes in the past; you can change the future.
- Stand back from your thoughts. Not all thoughts should be believed.
- Surround yourself only with people that love and encourage you. Let them remind you how amazing you are.
- See the whole person. Enjoy a glass of wine, or a cup of coffee and be grateful for the wonderful things in your life right now.
“There’s nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself, comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty” – Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience.
Source: books.google.co.za, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.lifehack.org, www.huffingtonpost.com, galadarling.com, tinybuddha.com, www.positivityblog.com, www.mindbodygreen.com, www.psychologytoday.com, www.worlofwanderlust.com, www.breathofoptimism.com, www.cynthiapasquell.com, www.parent24.com, www.fromroses.co.uk, www.recoverywarriors.com, theeverygirl.com, youqueen.com, www.shape.com, www.johnrivielo .com, experiencelife.com, www.bustle.com, www.allwomenastalk.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
