“Beauty is being comfortable and confident in your own skin.” – Iman
Was there ever a time in your life when you wished you were someone else, looked like someone else, or wanted to change your appearance in order to conform to society’s “standards?” I’m pretty sure there are a few ladies out there who aren’t comfortable in their own skin, and believe me, it’s totally normal to feel this way.
We often find ourselves fixated on how others view us rather than accepting who we truly are and loving the skin that we’re in. Now that society revolves around social media, it’s more difficult to be confident in yourself because you see many celebrities, Instagram models, etc. with the ‘perfect’ body and it sets the bar high for women who don’t have the same physique. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t experience a moment of uncertainty about my appearance or even my own abilities.
I still have my days where I doubt myself, but one thing I learned throughout my experience is that no one is perfect and in order to be confident in yourself, you have to acknowledge your imperfections and embrace them.
Many of us, including myself, fail to realize that we’re our biggest critics. Whenever I fail at something, I tend to beat myself up about it, which always result in me putting myself down. Until a few years ago, I decided to focus on myself and learn to love the person I am and the skin I’m in. I will always remember my high school teacher telling me, “Be confident in whatever you do and wear. As long as you’re confident and owning it, it doesn’t matter what other people think”. This helped me realize that other people’s opinions of me shouldn’t affect my decisions or actions.
You’re living for yourself, not for others, and life is too short to worry about other’s opinions of you or even to compare yourself to others. With that being said, here are a few ways I learned to love myself and maintain a positive mindset despite my doubts and low self-esteem.
Always remind yourself that you’re beautiful.
I know this is easier said than done, but whenever you’re feeling down and need some encouragement, just compliment yourself. A few years ago, I never told myself I was beautiful, but now I often find myself saying it whenever I pass a mirror or before I start my day. I know it may sound strange, but it actually works and the more I hear myself say it, the more I believe it and feel confident in myself.
Forget what others think of you.
Again, easier said than done, but once you plant the idea in your head that you are your own person and they are their own people, you start to care less about other’s viewpoints of you.
Encourage yourself.
Before you criticize or blame yourself, stop and think about what you would do if a close friend or relative failed at something. Rather than blaming them, you would comfort them. You can do the same thing to yourself by simply focusing on the positive instead of the negative. Despite failing, always remember that it was a learning experience and you can try again.
Like I mentioned earlier, no one is perfect. Don’t live everyday worried about how you look, why you’re not good at something, or comparing yourself to others. This will only cause you to feel more insecure in your appearance and abilities. Being yourself is the best thing you can ever be. This is what makes you unique and different from others. Embrace who you are and let your inner and outer self shine. And always remember: No one can be you better than yourself!
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