Today on the blog I am chatting about how to push past your insecurities and grow more comfortable with yourself.
Over my years I have gained a lot of insecurities and it's a fight every single day to get past them and go to the right direction. All that you see before you today was the product of a ton of work that I am still getting myself through. When you deal with your own insecurities and comfort with yourself, know that you are not the only one dealing with those issues.
Today I am sharing a couple of things you can do to become more comfortable with yourself, plus a whole lotta cute photos from a recent photo shoot I had. If you want more inspirational fashion shoots like this, let me know!
Say Your Affirmations
First things first, say your affirmations y'all. I know this is such a woo-woo thing to say, but telling yourself something positive is a great way to start each day.
I would encourage you to stand tall in front of your mirror each day and say something nice to yourself for a few minutes.
This works because the more year hear something said out loud, the more you begin to believe it.
Journal Your Feelings
If affirmations aren't your cup of tea try purchasing a cute notebook and using that to journal about your feelings every day.
Journals are a great way to become more in tune with your feelings and more comfortable with yourself.
Don't think of journals in a negative way. Use them to relax every morning or evening; write down all your fears, hopes, dreams, and wishes; and just take the time to settle down and be in the moment.
I would also note how you felt the morning that you journal. After a good handful of journal entries you may be able to recognize some patterns in what made you more likely to feel a certain way. Maybe you felt anxious after each campus game you went to, so you could find a way to go to the games while easing the anxious feelings you get after each game.
Understand What People Say Is More Of A Reflection On Them
People can be pretty cruel sometimes, but that's not your problem.
What people say, feel, and think does not reflect you as a human being. Your worth is not tied to the approval of some random person in class or on the internet. If someone says something nasty about you or makes fun of you, that's on them.
In order to truly get past the issues that you might have, you have to understand that their thoughts have no control over you. What was said by some a**hole on the internet or in your life has no bearing on your self-worth and awesomeness.
Learn To Laugh At Yourself
When I went back and looked at all these pictures, I realized there was a pretty big stain on my shirt. I could have been upset with my otherwise beautiful pictures and decided not to share them, after all, I see the stain every time I look at these pictures. Instead, I laughed at myself, and realized that's just what you get with me. I am a complex, messy, positive, and emotional individual. Yes, there is a stain on my shirt, but it's not the end of the world.
The important thing about tiny imperfections is to remember not to make them too big. Superficial things only have the weight that we give them. If you don't give the stain on your shirt any weight in your life, it won't matter. Laugh it off, and dance like no one's watching.
Realize You Are Not Alone
I promise you, everyone is dealing with some sort of insecurity about them.
People don't go online and share all their negative feelings. They go to a therapist, talk with really close friends/family, keep it bottled up inside, etc. Either way, people don't actively talk about their bad days with the world.
If you are feeling down about yourself and not comfortable with yourself, you better believe that there are SO many people feeling the exact same way as you do.
Do More To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
For me, as crazy as this sounds, I started posting more content about myself online. Images featuring fashion I was wearing, blog posts with fashion infused in them, etc. That coupled with just wearing new an interesting outfits really helped me embrace my inner awesome lady.
If you aren't comfortable with yourself, one of the best thing you can do is push the envelope of what comfortable is to you. More than likely, you can accomplish SO much more than what you think you can. All you need to do is put one foot forward.
Understand When It's Time To Seek Outside Help
I didn't want to end this article without telling you the honest truth. Sometimes all the woo-woo affirmations and laughter medicine isn't enough. There are many positive changes that you can make to become more comfortable with yourself, but it might not really fix your issues.
Talking to a therapist or psychologist about your issues is okay, y'all.
Many of you are in college, which is a good thing, because you can often get free or close to free therapy sessions on your college campus. If you are not on campus or your campus doesn't offer this, see if it is covered by your healthcare or if you can just find a therapist outside of your healthcare.
Your mental health is the most important thing in the world, girl!
Conclusion
From the bottom of my heart, I want you to know you are not alone. You are not the only person who is uncomfortable in their own skin. I don't say this to diminish your thoughts and feelings. Instead, I do this to let you know you are not fighting this battle alone. There are people who love you, want to see you happy, and who think you are the bees knees. When you are in that spiral of not feeling comfortable in your own body, know that there are so many people who feel your pain.
