The older we get, the harder it is to love the person we were born as. We’re so eager to change our hair, our style and even our shape in order to feel accepted that we eventually lose sight of how beautiful we were before the change. Take back your confidence by ditching these five phrases so you can learn to love yourself.
1. “I wish I looked like that.”
I’m pretty sure we’ve all come across a model on Instagram who resembles a goddess (@shahdbatal, for me.) Their eyebrows are precise, they have perfect winged liner and virtually no split ends. It’s common to feel like you’re lacking something, but the truth is, you’re not. In reality, most of these girls don’t look like that. It’s only thanks to expensive beauty products and Instagram filters. We compare ourselves to images that aren’t real. At the end of the day, there’s no need to resemble the girl next to you because you both contain something beautiful about you all on your own.
2. “I can’t eat that. I’ll get fat.”
Yes, you can. There is no legal restriction saying you can’t eat that cupcake or pizza slice. Why do we feel the need to restrict what we eat just to look a certain way? I feel like girls are the only ones who make it seem like it’s a crime to enjoy food. Now, there’s nothing wrong with trying to embrace healthy alternatives or eat certain foods in moderation, but don’t guilt trip yourself into avoiding food.
3. “I hate my *insert body part.*”
Name two parts of your body that you aren’t happy with. Now, name eight that you love. Was it as easy? We spend so much time focused on the “negative” aspects of ourselves that we never take the time to fall in love with the amazing parts. Instead of staring at your “imperfections” in the mirror each day, start each day by counting parts of your body that you love.
4. “I’m not good enough.”
Confidence, confidence, confidence. Just because you’re not a perfect 10 by society’s standards, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. In fact, it may just be the opposite. You possess traits that no one else has, and your self-confidence depends on seeing those traits for what they are and working to improve them. Self-improvement is a huge part of loving yourself.
5. Your approach toward the day
Okay, I’m bending the rules a bit. This one isn’t a phrase, but it’s something most girls don’t take into account. Most of us wake up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning, which completely ruins the whole day. To counter that, do some yoga, morning stretches or some serious shower singing to get those positive morning vibes going. Give yourself the boss babe status you deserve and tackle every morning as if you were Beyoncé.