Let’s talk about how to build all-over body confidence.
Most people battle with low self-esteem and body confidence at some point in life. Perhaps you wish your skin was clearer, or that your stomach was flatter, or your nose was smaller, or maybe you wish you were taller or shorter. These feelings apply to both men and women.
The Self-Image Puzzle
There are mornings when you stand in front of a mirror looking at yourself. You check out your arms, your stomach and even your butt, and if you're already feeling low, you can start to feel worse. You decide you want to look like you did when you were 22 years old. You start to get down on yourself, and your can literally feel your confidence slipping away.
Sound familiar?
After a full body bashing, you continue to torture yourself by scrutinizing your face in one of those magnifying mirrors. Then you think, “Oh great, there’s a new little wrinkle developing. Oh wonderful, a stray hair randomly growing some place it shouldn’t be.”
If it weren’t for the fear of seven years of bad luck, that mirror would be history. Right?
The Self-Confidence Solution
Often, our body image is directly tied to our self-esteem. And there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have all-over body confidence no matter what we look like. It’s important to embrace who we are today and let go of the past. Let go of the standardized perceptions of beauty, and find confidence from within. And the best part is, if there’s something we are unhappy about––we have the power to change it.
What bothers us the most is what no one notices about us
When we do work on ourselves and we see change, our confidence starts to build. Little things can make a huge impact. For some, it can simply be cleaning out the old wardrobe. Don't hold onto clothes forever. Every time you open that wardrobe and see a certain pair of ripped jeans from yesteryear your mind says, “Remember when you were a skinny young thing and rocked those jeans?” That one single thought would zap your self-confidence and you would inevitably start to feel bad about yourself.
The solution? Get rid of the jeans.
I know it’s simple, but not holding on to the past is important. No one needs a daily reminder of something that might make them feel bad for no reason. Everyone has different concerns, but we all have the power to improve how we view ourselves.
Here are few simple rules you can follow to create all-over body confidence and improve your self-esteem:
Self-Image and Self-Confidence Go Hand in Hand
Body confidence rule 1: Be realistic
It’s OK not to look like you did when you were 22. Think back to the good old days. Were you wearing fashions that belong in the past? Platform shoes, bell-bottoms or skinny ties? Perhaps it was big shoulder pads, acid-wash jeans or a crop top? Enough reminders of past fashion! Whatever the case, let’s admit it once and for all: we really do look better now than we did then. If you aren’t sure, show an old picture of yourself to someone who’s a decade younger than you. I showed my kids a picture of me rocking a once-trendy outfit and––love ‘em––they burst out laughing. Let’s romanticize the future, not the past.
Body confidence rule 2: Focus on the positive
You know that feeling you get when someone randomly tells you that they love your shoes, or they think your hair looks great? Or when someone asks, “Have you been working out?” Think about how you feel in those moments. We all have many positive attributes, but sometimes just one self-perceived negative overrules the many positives.
Let’s change our focus. Look in the mirror and what do you see? Focus on the good things. Do you have nice shiny hair, sparkly eyes, beautiful white teeth, toned abs or glowing skin? Compliment yourself on what you love about you each and every day. And own it.
Body confidence rule 3: Change is good
If you want to change something about yourself, do it sooner rather than later. If it’s your hair, try a new cut. If you’re losing your hair and it’s making you insecure, get rid of it. I know it’s difficult, but Taye Diggs, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Pitbull are all bald and they exude self-confidence. And hey, even yours truly was bald for a few years. Gentlemen, bald can be very sexy.
Worried about your weight? Today is the day to make a change. The sooner you get started on making a change, the sooner you’ll start feeling better about yourself.
Remember, beauty is found in the eye of the beholder, not on the pages of a fashion magazine. Throw your shoulders back, stand up tall, lift your chin up and smile. Love yourself, love your family and love your friends. Compliment yourself and others every day and be confident in who you are. Self-confidence exudes the positive.