Today we are focusing on everything you. Our entire lives we are programmed to be competitive. We play sports, are judged on our academic ability and have to live according to a check-list society has drawn up for us. According to the National Report on the State of Self-Esteem 7 in 10 girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with family and friends. So, we are calling it. Instead, we want you to start loving yourself, every single aspect of you.
Self-worth comes from within and below you will find six ways to harness it. It is an internal state of being that comes from self-love and self-acceptance. Self-worth is a direct measure of how you regard yourself and something that doesn’t quickly change when circumstances do. So, what does it actually mean to have a high level of self-worth? It means accepting yourself wholeheartedly despite your imperfections and limitations.
Change how you view yourself
Author Jen Sincero says: “What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.” It can be really hard to not worry about how others perceive you. When someone judges you, usually it is merely a reflection of their own insecurities. For example, if you wear something and someone comments that it is too revealing or too edgy, more often that not it is them expressing that they are disappointed that they aren’t confident to wear a similar garment. You don’t need anyone to validate you, so don’t seek self-worth in others,
Focus on your strengths
Heard about the law of attraction? The idea that whatever you focus on grows in life. The most successful people focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses. Indeed, you need to shift your focus. If you are a terrible public speaker but great at communicating through writing, then focus on getting even better at writing. You owe the world your talents.
Collect affirmations
Affirmations are fantastic for increasing your self-worth. You can either write down positive statements such as “I love myself” , “I am enough” , “I am worthy” and then pin them to your mirror or wall or use digital affirmations. Make your desktop wallpaper your favourite affirmation. Create a Pinterest board where you collect great affirmations about abundance and a prosperous lifestyle. Soon, you will be immersed in them and won’t believe anything different.
Celebrate your minor victories
If you are a high achiever like me you might not be too enthusiastic about your micro-wins. However, they are exceptionally important. A micro-win is reconnecting with an old friend, eating well for a week or getting an ‘A’ in that test. Celebrating micro-wins is a fantastic way to drive momentum forward and build resilience. Recognising the small victories is great for anyone with a short attention span, or for someone needing a steady sense of accomplishment.
Read a book a month.
We live in a media and technology driven world so reading a book is a great way to achieve a sense of accomplishment. Reading is illuminating and can make you more empathetic. People who read regularly have greater levels of self–esteem, are less stressed, and can cope better with difficult situations according to a 2015 survey. Bonus.
Forgive yourself
Always own up to your mistakes. Be honest with yourself if you have hurt someone. Once you have taken responsibility for your actions, learn to stop beating yourself up. Prolonged suffering won’t change the past. Self-worth leads to happiness so change your mindset and open up about what you have done wrong. Don’t condone or excuse what you have done, but try to learn from your mistake and move on.
Every single person who reads this article, I want you to know you have worth. Realise your self-worth and do not let your views on your self-esteem change it. Be a little less hard on yourself for making mistakes and those tiny imperfections you do not like, learn to embrace them.
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