Even at the best of times, it can be difficult to feel good about yourself or the way that you look. Learning to find ways to combat a negative self-image is important so you can live your best life and have a more positive outlook on the world in your day-to-day life.
Here are just a few simple ideas of ways you can improve your self-image and self-esteem:
Challenge unkind thinking
It’s normal for negative or intrusive thoughts to play on your mind from time to time. Sometimes things happen in life that are completely out of your control, but if you don’t learn techniques to help combat these thoughts, they can soon spiral into self-deprecation.
It’s important to take the time to try and understand why those negative thoughts about yourself or your actions are consuming you, as more often than not, people tend to treat themselves harsher than they would others going through the same situation.
A great way to try and combat unkind thinking is to try and speak to yourself like you would a friend. Learning to change your internal dialogue can be a great tool to help overcome negative thoughts and will allow you to be kinder to yourself in times of stress or hardship.
Another useful tool to help challenge negative thinking is to practice mindfulness and meditation. Giving yourself the time to connect with your inner self and your true feelings and emotions will help you appreciate and express them, instead of trying to bury them under the surface.
Get to know yourself better
One of the best tips for boosting your own self-image and self-worth is to take the time to really get to know who you are deep down inside. People so often invest so much of their time in getting to know other people and putting energy into their lives that they often neglect the same care and attention for themselves.
Spending time on your own and figuring out what makes you truly happy will help you have a truer sense of what sort of person you are, and in turn, this will boost your confidence in social situations and help you build better relationships with the people around you.
Embrace your unique style
How you look can have a huge impact on the way that you feel, so it’s important that you dress in a way that is going to boost your self-confidence and let your true personality shine.
You could opt to wear colourful statement jewellery to project confidence, or choosing to wear dresses that express your fun or flirty side can help boost your self-esteem when meeting new people or for a special occasion with your friends.
Practice self-care
Practising self-care looks entirely different from one person to the next, so it’s important to find a routine that works for you and makes you feel your best. This could be going to a relaxing yoga class, spending the night reading a book or with a face mask surrounded by candles.
Whatever it may be, practising self-care will help you to feel more grounded and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.