HappyLifestyleJournal
Are you one of the many people who live their lives focusing on the negative, thinking they are less worthy and beating themselves up for every little mistake? Well, in fact, you are amazing and you deserve love and respect just like everyone else. But no one can help you gain self-esteem like you can and you must start by learning to love yourself. The road to gaining confidence is not an easy one, but it’s entirely in your hands and you can do it if you just put your mind to it. Here are some ways that can help you learn to love yourself.
1. Write down what you like about yourself
Make this a daily routine. Every day, spare some time in the evening, when you get home from work/lectures/school and write down three things that you appreciate about yourself. It can be related to what happened that day or it can be in general but you need to note down three things even if it’s hard for you to think of them. Not only will it instantly make you feel better, it will also be of great help in the future. When you’re having a bad day, just take out your list and go through what you’ve written every day.
2. Be nice to others
Another great thing that will immediately improve how you see yourself is your treatment of others. Be kind to others, and not only will you feel good, you will also probably receive the same treatment from them. Be there for someone in trouble and really listen to them. You probably know that it’s not so much about whether people can help you, sometimes you just need to be listened to. Help an elderly neighbor carry her bags to her apartment. Call someone you haven’t heard from in a long time. Smile to a stranger. All of these things will be an instant boost of positive energy.
3. Stop criticizing yourself
We are often our biggest critics, which can have serious consequences on our confidence. Sometimes, we just need to cut ourselves some slack and give ourselves some love and appreciation. Instead of putting pressure on yourself, try accepting yourself the way you are. Hush that mean critic in you by saying a stop word or a stop phrase and focusing on thinking about something else. Those thoughts will always be present, but it’s important to know how to channel them into something constructive. Instead of criticizing, try giving yourself compliments.
4. Take care of your body
Healthy body, healthy mind. The two are really connected more than you know, and as much as you can harm your physical health with negative thoughts, you can also improve your mental health by taking care of your body. Learn to love your body by keeping a healthy diet instead of indulging in junk and comfort food. Learn about nutrition and foods that both make you feel good and are healthy for you. Moreover, start working out but do something you actually enjoy. Not everyone enjoys going to the gym or jogging. Take part in some sport you’ve always wanted to try or take dance lessons.
5. Start your day with love
In our hectic lifestyle, we often forget to take a few moments to just be lucky we’re alive and appreciate everything positive around us. So instead of starting your day by jumping out of bed, turning your computer on or rushing out because you’re already late for work, change the routine by waking up a little earlier. Learn to actually enjoy your morning. Open your eyes and enjoy the sun, snuggle with the person next to you, anticipate everything nice that is going to happen that day. Make sure you leave enough time for breakfast and a cup of coffee and you will see how much better your day is going to be.
6. Surround yourself with positivity
Loving yourself can be difficult if you are surrounded by negative people and it’s even worse if those people don’t love and respect you. You have the right to an awesome life with people that appreciate you and things you enjoy. So embrace all the positivity, do activities you like and that make you happy. But also, don’t be afraid to cut all ties with those people that bring you down. Remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to and you don’t have to keep anyone you don’t want in your life. You will see how much lighter you will feel as soon as you realize that and let go of negativity.
7. Dare to step out of your comfort zone
“Life starts where your comfort zone ends.” If you keep living your life inside the lines of your comfort zone, you will miss all the great opportunities. So, dare to see what’s hiding outside. Take a chance and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Accept the challenge, say “yes” more often. You will soon feel younger, happier and much more confident. Doing something that scares you will make you feel great in the long run and when you look back, you will always regret something you haven’t done than something you have. Even if you fail, you will learn valuable lessons and be braver to pick yourself up and start again.
