For some students, accepting themselves for who they are comes naturally. However, for the rest of the population, it may take more than a little time to adjust.
Take it from someone like myself—insecurity has always played a role in my life. I’m 21-years-old, but I’ve always looked more like my shoe size rather than my age.
When I first entered college back in 2007, I remember looking around trying to figure out why I haven’t “blossomed” as much as the other girls in my dormitory.
These “women” were “busting” out from every angle of themselves.
For the most part, we’re never really 100% happy with ourselves. We always want curly hair when we have straight hair ourselves and vice versa.
The grass is always greener on the other side.
It’s important, though, that we eventually adjust and become comfortable with our bodies and college is a great place to become accustom to ourselves.
Try some of the following techniques to turn your attitude about who you are and what you look like into a more positive one:
Promote Your Positive Attributes
Self-improvement is always a great thing, however, it’s also important to focus on your positive qualities. This will contribute to helping better your perspective of yourself by boosting your confidence.
If you are short and you want longer legs, accept that you will never be 5’10”, but maybe you have beautiful facial features that would be the envy of any leggy model.
Change Your Mindset
Thinking negatively can only cause you to backtrack in achieving a positive attitude and higher confidence. Yes, we all have our negative characteristics, but constantly pointing out your negative qualities to yourself or your friends will only bring you and others down.
No one wants to be around someone who is always negative; instead of picking apart your flaws, why don’t you start dishing out genuine compliments to your friends? The next time you are all looking in the mirror, don’t announce that you need a nose job; compliment your best friend on her outfit or her new haircut.
The positive energy from giving genuine compliments to those you care about will make you and your friends feel great.
No One is Perfect
It’s hard when the handsome stud or the supermodel classmate in your class is appears to be flawless. Believe it or not, these types of students suffer from insecurity as well.
You may think that they are perfect, but when they look in the mirror, they see flaws just like you do. Instead of wishing you looked more like so-and-so, be appreciative of the qualities you see in yourself that you are not seeing in them.
No one is perfect. Sometimes it’s the imperfections that makes each of us unique and special.
Instill Positive Self-Motivation
This may sound a bit cheesy, but try talking positively to yourself in the mirror. Let yourself know that you are the best person you can be and if people can’t accept that, then you don’t need them in your life.
Compliment yourself and remind yourself that you ARE beautiful or compliment your good qualities and skills. Look in the mirror and say, “I have beautiful eyes,” or “wow, I never realized how toned my arms are!”
Whatever good you can find in yourself, point it out to the person starring back at you.
Let ‘Em Hate!
You’ll never be able to satisfy everyone. Sometimes, you just need to walk around like you KNOW you look good. Walking with your chin up (literally) and your back straight makes one appear more confident.
While you shouldn’t walk around with your nose in the air, walk with confidence and poise; you are sure to attract some positive attention.
Stop Worrying All the Time
Worrying will do nothing, but drive you crazy. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. If you know there’s something about you that absolutely needs to be changed, then change it. But if there are certain things you cannot change, there is no use in worrying about them; fully accept yourself and you will stop worrying.
Again, you’re not going to please everyone, and sometimes that includes yourself. Again, focus on the things you DO like about yourself and forget the flaws.
Do Your Best and Forget the Rest
If you know you’ve done all you can do to better yourself, then that’s okay. This world is not perfect. Therefore, your best is more than enough.
Accepting yourself can be hard sometimes, especially when you feel like something better is sitting next to you in class. Stop being so hard on yourself and try living life with ease and acceptance. Confidence is sexy and so are you.A
