If you’ve seen Legally Blonde or The Devil Wears Prada, you probably have wanted to have a similar sense of prestige or confidence to what was portrayed by Reese Witherspoon or Meryl Streep. Sometimes it’s easy to give up trying because we feel like we’ll never be able to radiate such self-assurance. That’s where we’re wrong. Everyone is capable of building up confidence. Sometimes all we need is a boost or a little nudge in the right direction.
Assess Your Situation and Adapt Accordingly
First things first, what are your circumstances? Do you find yourself wearing sweatpants all day? Are you constantly criticizing yourself? What adds to your stresses or tears you down? Once you’re able to find these trigger points, you can start to build a plan to either separate yourself from these things or find a way around them. When you find the root of the problem, it becomes easier to make necessary changes.
Fake it Till You Make It
Obviously, if you’re creating the illusion of a confident persona, the confidence will not actually be there at first. But over time, the more you fake it the more you’ll start to believe in yourself. Pretending to “love yourself” can really get the ball rolling. Take it as flirting with yourself or giving yourself compliments the same way you would to someone else. This eventually will become a habit and you’ll find yourself in a better headspace than before. It’s also proven that smiling, even if it’s ingenuine, can make you feel a little better. Time to start working on those acting muscles.
Avoid Looking at Your Reflection More Than Ten Times a Day
Have you ever taken a dozen selfies, found one you liked, deleted the rest and then just stared at it so much that you deleted it too? Don’t sweat it, you’re not alone! Similar to how the more you stare at a certain word or fixate on it, the weirder it’ll seem. Don’t believe me? Go ahead, pick a word and eventually it’ll sound weird to say or even read. So, don’t fixate too much on specific parts of your reflection. Turn the mirror into a utility (as it should be). We’re trying to minimize the fixation on flaws so you’re more likely to appreciate yourself whenever you do catch a glimpse of your reflection.
Replace Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones
Okay. I know what you’re thinking. It’s easier said than done, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Every time you think of a supposed flaw, think of three to five positive things about yourself. Put uplifting sticky notes on your mirror, laptop and even reminders on your phone. Daily reminders or just consistent reminders can help redirect you when needed. This will help shift your mindset and your opinion of yourself towards a more positive direction. It only adds to your confidence!
Listen to Uplifting Music
Music can make us feel many things, so why not use it to make you feel better about yourself? Here’s a list of songs that I find very uplifting. These are only a few but if you need more, Spotify can curate a list specific to your taste. Of course, people are different.
- The Man by Taylor Swift
- Fight Song by Rachel Platten
- Who Says by Selena Gomez
- Cover Girl by Big Time Rush
- Look at Her Now by Selena Gomez
- Adore You by Harry Styles
- I Forgot That You Existed by Taylor Swift
- Good as Hell by Lizzo
- Lovely One by the Jackson Five
- Rare by Selena Gomez
Remind Yourself It’s Okay
When you’re struggling with problems like depression or anxiety, it can be hard to leave your bed and get anything done. As a result, you’re likely to put yourself down for that. When you find yourself doing that, remind yourself it’s okay to have down days. It’s vital for your sanity to have a space or a designated time for you to unwind.
At the end of the day, everyone has different personalities and needs which means we all grow differently. When a plant isn’t growing you don’t change the plant, you change the environment.
