No matter how beautiful you are, how kind or how smart, we’ve all been there. We’ve looked in the mirror and hated what we saw or how we felt. It’s so difficult to love how we look when all we see in magazines or on Instagram are these seemingly perfect people. We apply filters, buff out our acne, Photoshop our waist, we do anything we can to look perfect except be ourselves. But who really wins when we look in our mirrors and say “I hate you”?
It’s so important to love ourselves. We have to see our bodies and our faces and live within them for our entire lives. Would you live in a house you hated? Sure you could move out, but even better, change it up, love its flaws, make the memories. Here are tips to help you learn to love yourself.
List what you love
It sounds so trivial and over used, but list what you love. It doesn’t even have to be a physical list, it could be a mental list or just pointing things out to yourself. There is so much to love about ourselves, so take the time to really think. Everyone is smart, everyone is beautiful, but what makes you unique?
Use your talents to express it
Can you draw? Paint? Sing? Use that to play off your self-hate. Draw the most beautiful part of yourself, paint a picture of what you love, write a poem, write a book and describe yourself as the main character. Whatever you do, focus on the positive.
Change up your look
Makeup and clothing aren’t the fix to how you feel, but changing up your daily look gives you a fresh feeling that helps anyone. Maybe look up cool tutorials online or look up how to match your outfits differently, just make yourself new on the outside- because, honey, the inner you is golden.
Watch inspirational videos online
YouTube is loaded with people who are amazing and have inspiring stories to tell. They’re all beautiful and amazing and unique, thrive off their experiences to have some of your own. Learn from the uniqueness of people and put yourself in their mindset
Get dressed up and go out
Dress yourself up, even if its too much for where you’re going. Put on your all time favorite outfit, hop in the car, and go out with friends. Or go by yourself. Just go feel yourself.
Post a pic
If you post a great selfie or awesome picture on VSCO or Instagram, someone is going to comment on it. Your friends will love you and your pictures. Send some love to them in return. Girls supporting girls!
And if none of this makes you feel a little better, just know that you are amazing.