Love the Skin You’re In!
Its officially summer and the weather is hot! We have longer days, more outdoor celebrations, and parties by the pool or at the beach. These are all good things that most look forward to, but if we are not happy and confident in our own skin, the summer months bring on anxiety and self-doubt. Appreciating yourself can sometimes be a difficult task. Being comfortable in your skin is knowing exactly who you are and adoring yourself – including your quirks and flaws! Balancing and accepting yourself can help your self- esteem and also bring you inner peace. Here are some ways to help you love yourself as much as you deserve!
Thank Yourself: Our bodies are amazing things but we tend to take them for granted. Thank your body for every magnificent thing that it does and can do! Remember to set aside time to sit and close your eyes, relax your body starting from your toes all the way to the crown of your head and concentrate on your breathing. Take a moment to pay attention to your body and its needs. Maybe you have an area of your body that hasn’t been receiving the TLC it deserves, a strain in your back, a crick in your neck, or tired feet. Now would be the time to address those issues and tend to those neglected areas. Not only will you feel better, but you will become more in-tune and appreciative of your own abilities!
Give Back: Honor your body with things that make it feel good. Exercising, eating right, drinking enough water- even something as simple as a good stretch session and a long shower in the morning is a wonderful way to celebrate yourself. Make a list of things you need to do so you feel healthy and grounded, and make sure to find time throughout the day to accomplish them. It is much easier to love who you are when you change your needs into your priorities.
Adore Yourself: Stop comparing yourself to other people- you are amazing. Don’t look at others’ lives and wish it were your own. Instead take a look at all of the things that you have accomplished and the wonderful things about yourself that make you who you are today. Your beauty, both inner and outer, is never dependent on the approval of others!
Have a Presence: Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say and own the space you take up in a room! Don’t tiptoe or apologize unless you actually mean it, you’re opinions will be much better received if you are confident in them. Doubting yourself only limits you and drains your energy. How you feel about your abilities and desires is directly related to your self-esteem and denying them is just denying you. Once you start trusting yourself- you will love yourself enough to know you deserve everything that you strive for.
Find Yourself: The most important thing about self-love is learning to delight in ourselves. When we are quiet and in our own heads we are usually thinking about other things, other people, and other situations. Rarely do we take time for some inner tranquility and enjoy our own company. If we can’t have a peaceful moment alone to acknowledge our own presence then we will eventually forget how truly marvelous we are all together. Meditation and deep breathing is a great way to be still and kind to yourself! Start with just one minute a day and build up from there: slowing down and being content in silence is how you start your path to uncovering just how incredible you are and help you live blissfully in your own unique skin!
*Written by Michelle Avidon, a Clinical Psychology Graduate Student with a BA in Psychology. She mentored troubled youth at The Door in New York City and now works in Inpatient Mental Health in New Canaan, CT. *Edited by Heather Edwards, LMHC, NCC, BCC, Psychotherapist & Life Coach
