It’s difficult to live in a world with social media, magazines and pop culture. Everything about today’s media culture can drive a person to believe they’re just not enough. Women are directly impacted by the need to look beautiful and captivating like the models on Instagram. Men tend to believe that if they don’t look a certain way and stay in the gym, they won’t be desirable to women.
The real truth is that you’ve got to learn to love yourself just the way you are. Work on both your internal and external beauty, but don’t obsess. The more you accept yourself, the more confident you’ll become. Plus, confidence is one of the most attractive traits any person can possess. If you want some practical ways to work on becoming more at peace within your own skin, try these four tips.
Highlight the Positives
In a lot of cases, people pick themselves apart and identify with their least desired traits. It’s even easy to do it to others. Instead of being overly critical, reverse it and highlight the wonderful parts of yourself. For example, if you have a gorgeous head of hair, start to do your hair in a way that highlights its beauty.
If you have elegantly high cheekbones, highlight them with some blush, bronzer or highlight. If you’re a guy with masculine broad shoulders, wear clean blazers and shirts that highlight that. It’s best to play up your best features and allow them to stand out. Once you do this on a consistent basis, you will feel better about what you have going for you.
Find the Right Role Models
Many young adults make the mistake of following people who they want to be like, but can’t. As a result, they end up feeling worse about themselves. If you’re a woman who is naturally on the thicker side, following someone like Paris Hilton (who is naturally slender) is only going to make you feel worse about yourself.
It’s always important to have representation. If you’re a man who is shorter in stature, following someone like Lebron James may make you feel like a little boy. Follow someone like Kevin Hart, who is confident in his short stature and uses it to his advantage. When you follow people who are more like you, you subconsciously change the conversation in your brain. When you see people with traits you have in common, you’re more likely to see it and identify with them. As they walk confidently with their flaws and all, it’ll encourage you to do the same.
Change What You Can’t Accept
Sometimes, there are parts of your body you wish were different. Even though there is a massive push for young adults to get plastic surgery, it’s important to sit down and have an honest conversation with yourself. Consider whether the change you want to make is worth permanent alteration. If you decide it’s worth it, do lots of research to find the best option on the market. If you have a serious abnormality, a surgery could literally change your life and how you experience it. In cases like these, it’s wise to find a doctor who has practiced for a significant number of years and can give you the best care possible.
Utilize Positive Affirmations
It’s been said that for every negative affirmation, you need seven positive affirmations to cancel it out. Throughout your day, you’ll be exposed to people’s opinions and critique. On top of that, the average person is usually their own worst critique. Start and end your day with positive affirmations. As you repeat things about yourself that are awesome, you’ll be more likely to believe them. If you don’t encourage yourself, you can’t rely on others to do it for you. Be proactive and write down positive affirmations to encourage yourself every day.
These four tips combine to make a great foundation for loving yourself and being happy in your own skin. Remember that how you think about yourself will affect more than just your own happiness. Your family members and friends will all be able to feel your happiness or sorrow. As you continue the journey of loving yourself, you’ll find new ways to improve and love yourself even more.
Understand that the journey isn’t linear. It will have its bumps and turns, but as long as you remain dedicated to the process, your efforts will not be in vain. Whatever you do, never be afraid to reach out for help. You have a support system, even if you don’t fully realize it. Lean on your loved ones and together you can accomplish anything.