A guide to Self-Love
It's easier to talk about what we prefer to look like rather than feel content about our current appearance.
It's easier to talk about what we prefer to look like than to feel content about our physical appearance. We tend to talk about how life would be easier if only we lost ten pounds or had perfect skin or hair.
Now some people are happy with their appearance. But only some people are satisfied with what they see in the mirror today. And honestly, there's nothing wrong with trying to look and feel your best.
But most of the time, we try in vain to keep up with the current beauty culture. Believe it or not, sometimes we can tell we're trying in vain. But we don't stop. Accepting ourselves can be one of the hardest things we do.
So Why Is It So Hard to Accept Ourselves?
We find it hard to accept ourselves because others shape how we see ourselves. Our caregivers and culture strongly influence who we become as soon as we are born. They shape us, or at least our perception of ourselves, from the moment we enter the world.
The people we interact with and the friends we make along the way significantly influence our lives and how we feel about ourselves. Sometimes we don't even realize that others are affecting us.
We won't always agree with what others think we are, but the opinions that others have of us matter to us. They can cause us to think negatively about ourselves.
When we go to school, others judge our worth more on our academic performance than on our passion or personality. As a result, we might develop a negative view of it ourselves.
This process can make us feel inferior or depressed, especially when others seem more successful or famous.
It is essential to remember that other people have the right to generate their ideas about us but that such opinions are based only on what we choose to make public about ourselves rather than on who we are.
SELF acceptance TIPS
1. See yourself as a work-in-progress. We are all growing and learning, and that's okay. Don't let it keep you from going forward. Realizing that you're a work in progress rather than a perfect being will motivate you to keep trying no matter what. One thing you can do is edit your choice of words to reflect this. Changing your language this way lets you feel like there's a possibility to change.
2. Be compassionate with yourself. As humans, we are flawed. Knowing our flaws is essential, so we don't beat ourselves up over them. If you need help accepting yourself, look at yourself through someone else's eyes. Talk to yourself as if you were talking to a friend. Take a pen and paper and write down how you intend to help yourself. These things can help you focus on your positive qualities.
3. Talk to your friends. If you tend to get down on yourself, join forces with someone else who suffers the same way. Knowing they have your back can be uplifting.
On the other hand, making friends with others who feel bad about themselves can do more harm—it might cause both of you to wallow in your self-pity rather than do something about it. In that case, you’ll have to find friends who will encourage you to be positive.
We don't always notice how others influence us. It's too easy to forget the power others can have over our lives if we let them. So, make it a point to be compassionate with yourself, see yourself as a work in progress, and encourage yourself to be positive. Soon, you’ll notice you have a much higher regard for yourself and make remarkable changes.
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