Looking back on my time in elementary, middle and even high school, I have found that there is a common misconception that comes with how girls in that age group see their bodies in comparison to others. We constantly are comparing ourselves to one another.
Why do we do that to ourselves? As a once young (still am) naive girl, I can stand for my fellow girls and say we all have felt this way and many still do going into college years.
It comes with this mindset of constant thoughts such as why do I not look like her? Why are my hips so much curvier than hers? Why doesn’t my hair curl like that? How does she get her mascara to look like that?
The list goes on for miles on end.
When I find myself asking these questions, I like to remind myself of the beauty of the differences we have between one another. Instead of answering these questions with my actual thoughts, I tell myself that growth is necessary to become the person I really want to be. I can not become the successful woman I want to be if I am still stuck in the same mentality and body I was in when I was 16 years old.
This also stays true for our physical health and growth of our bodies. Our bodies naturally change as we get older, so naturally we are going to look different than we did four years ago. Trust me, it is time to throw out that old bikini top you’re never going to wear again!
A part of growing up is realizing you can shift away from this negative mindset, and teaching myself to do this is something I am forever grateful for. This shift in mindset does not happen overnight, rather it requires a conscious effort everyday.
Here are some tips and tricks that have helped me along the way.
*DISCLAIMER: I do not have the expert knowledge nor ability to tell you to do any of these things. These exercises just so happened to work for me.
Breaking Habits
The hardest thing to do is break a habit. A habit forms after 21 days of doing something consecutively. Without even realizing it, you are creating your own habit of telling yourself negative thoughts everyday.
To break this stride, start by picking one thing you like about yourself when brushing your teeth in the morning. It can be a feature you like on your face, your belly shake when you laugh, the way you say a certain word, etc. Shining light on one thing about yourself a day will help you realize that there are so many positive traits about you!
Show Gratitude
Starting your day with gratitude every day will not only help you feel more thankful for the things in your life, but also help you start to have a more positive outlook. With a constricted mindset, it is hard to view things openly. Waking up and showing gratitude, whether you say it internally or actually out loud, helps set the day’s mood and help you achieve small wins throughout the day.
A simple phrase like, “Thank you for another day” helps get the job done and start your process of becoming a positive-minded queen.
Reality Check
Sometimes, you just have to be stern and give yourself a good ol’ reality check. Everyone is made differently and everyone is from a different part of the world. This causes people to act different, look different, and have different traits from you.
We are different from one another for a reason! Embrace it!
Overall, do not fret about not fitting into your favorite top, pair of jeans or best bra from high school. You are meant to grow as time goes on. Embrace it!