confidence

Don’t Let These Common Issues Derail Your Self-Confidence

August 17, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

So, how are you feeling today?

If you’re feeling on top of the world, with oodles of self-confidence, and a raring to go attitude, then congrats, long may it continue!

However, many of us struggle with feelings of low self-esteem, and our confidence levels drop in tandem. Consequently, we are less likely to engage in social situations. We take fewer risks because we don’t want to do something that could result in failure. And we hold ourselves back from achieving our dreams, perhaps because we don’t feel capable.

It is important to deal with the issues that derail our self-confidence. We will then break free of those things that bind us, and move forward with renewed positivity and a can-do attitude that will get us to where we want to be in life.

These are just a few of the common issues that can negatively affect our confidence levels:

Issues That Affect Us Socially

From genuine psychological issues, such as social anxiety, to debilitating conditions, such as issues with hearing and speech, many of us struggle with confidence as a result. We then limit ourselves in social situations and lack the courage to take on simple tasks, such as using the telephone. Thankfully, these can be overcome. Anxiety can be overcome through counseling therapies, speech therapy is available to those who need it, and hearing can be improved through a range of hearing aids, including cochlear implants. Should you be suffering from any issue that is affecting you on a social level, speak to the relevant professionals for the help that you need.

Issues Around Our Physical Appearance

None of us are perfect, but many of us suffer from low self-confidence because of the way we look. This is partly compounded by the images we see in the media, many of them falsely prescribing to the notion that to be beautiful, we have to be slim and have perfect skin. Now, you can take steps to improve your physical apperance when necessary. If you are struggling with weight issues, you can exercise more and eat a healthier diet. And for your skin, there is a range of creams and beauty treatments available. However, providing your health isn’t at risk, it is okay to be who you are! That’s all you should ever be: you. Work on your imperfections if you need to, but do other things to stop hating your body. Begin by offering gratitude for your best bits, and ignore the toxic messages that the media bombards you with.

Issues Around Social Media

Many of us compare ourselves unfavorably to the people on our friends’ lists. We envy the exciting lives that they seem to be leading, and wish that we had better things to post. We place value on the number of likes our posts get and start to feel down when nobody seems to notice what we write. These factors can negatively affect our confidence levels, so perhaps it’s time we unplug ourselves for a while. We might then start to become less reliant on Facebook, Twitter, etc. for our social needs, and finally start to enjoy life and regain confidence away from our screens.

What impacts your self-confidence? How do you find confidence?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

How to Stop Hating Your Body

July 3, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Photo by Andre Furtado from Pexels

It can be pretty hard to love your body. We’re bombarded with unrealistic images and constant pressure to look a certain way. It’s no wonder that so many women report hating their bodies (including me). If you hate your body right now, it might be a big leap to fall in love with yourself. But perhaps there are ways you can learn to value, like, and respect your body. We can all learn to go beyond the toxic messages in our cultures and find ways to embrace ourselves. Below are some things to consider!

Reframe What You See in the Mirror

Many of us look in the mirror and immediately start listing our [perceived] flaws. This can be tricky, but maybe you can make a conscious habit of naming one thing you like about yourself every time you catch your reflection? [AKA affirmations]. This could be something as simple as having nice teeth, a cute freckle, or that your eyebrows look great today. By training your brain to jump to the positives, you may be less likely to fixate on the things you don’t like.

Note: I understand that body dysmorphic disorder is a very real mental health condition, and often requires professional help. The advice stated above is my opinion and is not meant to diagnose or treat, and does not refer to those with BDD.

Focus on Being Strong and Healthy

So much focus is put on dieting and exercising for weight loss. But what happens when we turn our attention to health, instead? This could mean that you’re less harsh on yourself, and avoid harmful habits like skipping meals or overworking yourself. After all, it’s not healthy to push your body to extremes. [Though some aspiring “health coaches” say pain is good, it’s not true. Pain means there is something wrong!] Approach your diet and exercise with love and positivity, rather than hatred.

Get a New Wardrobe

It can be tempting to keep jeans that don’t fit, because one day we hope to squeeze into them (there was a recent poll in my Facebook group asking how long is acceptable to keep jeans that are too small; some people said forever!). But inevitably, this leaves us feeling ‘less than’. Try to embrace your current body shape and size by getting clothes that fit you beautifully and accentuate your best bits. Nobody needs to know what size you wear, but everyone will see how confident you look in clothes that flatter you. You could even have an in-store stylist pick out some items that would look amazing on you. Personally, I use StitchFix! I also like Amazon Wardrobe. I love having a “personal” stylist to pick flattering clothes for me. The right clothes make all the difference in how we feel!

Switch The Focus

Lots of work towards loving your body involves a lot of focus on your body. But if you struggle with body image, this could be triggering. Could you switch the focus away from your body for a little while? Some people find it helpful to journal about all the positive traits they love about themselves – things like being kind, funny, intelligent, generous. Having an ever-growing list of compliments that have nothing to do with how you look can be a real boost to self-confidence.

Know When You Need Help

Everyone can feel uncomfortable about their body sometimes. But if you have developed excessive worries about your body, or compulsive behaviors and routines, you may have body dysmorphia, which is an anxiety disorder relating to body image. If you think your body image is impacting on your life or you think you may have body dysmorphia, it’s important to seek help. You can speak with your doctor or visit a counseling center to get specialist advice to help you heal. [I shared a note about this above]

•What do you struggle with? How do you build confidence for yourself?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Beauty Health

What It Takes To Feel Confident In Your Own Skin

May 9, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

Feeling confident in your own skin can often be something that takes a lifetime to achieve. We all want to feel confident while we’re young and in our prime, but there are so many things that make us feel bad – like magazines only showing super slim, photoshopped women, and the media telling us we’re too much/not enough constantly. Yes, being confident in your own skin in 2019 is hard. However, it’s not impossible. Below, we’ll talk about what it takes to feel confident in your own skin so you can finally hold your head high and have a healthy self image. Take a look!

Become Aware of All Of The BS

Start becoming aware of all the BS out there. Ever noticed how magazines will give you great cake recipes on one page and then show you pictures of celebrities on the beach on another page, commenting on their shape and size? Magazines are designed to make us feel like we’re not enough so we buy stuff. They are full of contradictions. Many of us pick up insecurities from here that we wouldn’t have had otherwise!

Ever looked at a picture on Instagram and felt that jealous twang in your stomach? There’s a good chance that this picture was tweaked and photoshopped in some way. Not every beautiful person photoshops their pictures, but many celebrities do. It may be only slight sometimes, but it’s still not what they look like. Even regular people use Facetune and filters to change how they look. Things are not all they seem online, on TV, and on social media. Don’t pay too much attention to it.

Make ‘I Am Enough’ Your Mantra

The whole idea of being confident in your skin isn’t thinking you’re better than anybody else. It’s feeling like you’re enough. When you feel enough as you are, you won’t worry about what anybody else is doing, or what anybody else looks like. You won’t want to change this or that about yourself. You’ll feel totally content. It can be a tough place to get to, but it’s possible! Stop comparing yourself, and when you start thinking that you need something else to be whole, whether that’s nail extensions, a new outfit, or even a new hair color, remind yourself that you’re enough just as you are. It doesn’t mean you can’t have those things you want, it just means you’ll get them from a more confident, informed place rather than a place of not liking what you see.

image

Practice Self Care Regularly

Self care is crucial to feeling confident. Show yourself some love! Take baths. Do things you enjoy. Eat your vegetables and fill up on food that you love. Look after your skin. If you have skin issues, such as psoriasis, see if you can get prednisone treatment prescribed to you. Skin issues don’t make you less worthy, but if they affect your self esteem then see a professional.

Don’t Let That Negative Voice In Your Head Take Over

We all have a negative voice in our head, but you’ll be surprised to learn that it’s not your own. You don’t have to listen to it! Like a radio station, just don’t tune in. Think of something else. If you wouldn’t stare at your friend or call them fat/ugly, don’t do it to yourself. You’ll feel much better very soon!

What do you do to feel confident in your own skin? Comment below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

How to Deal with Poor Body Confidence Issues

May 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Having a negative body image can have a huge impact on you emotionally. You may find that you focus on having the perfect body so much that you set unrealistic goals, and that you also find it hard to feel confident in yourself, too. If you want to help yourself, then there are a few things that you can do to try and rectify the issues that you are having.

Fake It Until You Make it

Confidence is very attractive. If you love the way that you look, then other people will, too. Ditching your negative mindset can seem impossible at times; if you want to get around this, then maybe to try and fake it. When you catch yourself in the mirror, don’t pick up on every single flaw. Instead, tell yourself that you are stunning. When you do this, you will eventually feel more confident and you will also be able to break those bad habits that you have developed. It’s tough, but it’s possible!

https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-looking-upright-standing-against-yellow-wall-1536619/

Be Your Best Friend

When your inner voice starts to tell you that you don’t look good, try and quiet that voice. Talk to yourself like you would your best friend, and try and give yourself the respect that you truly deserve! You deserve better, and the sooner you understand this, the more confident you will feel about your own body image.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-photography-of-group-of-people-jumping-during-golden-time-1000445/

Trade Negative for Positive

If your family members always have something negative to say, then stay clear of them. Surround yourself with people who are able to support you and who want the best for you. People who say nasty comments about other people are usually massively insecure, and they need to say those things just to make themselves feel better. Ditching people can be difficult, but if you can, you need to push yourself, and you should also try to socialize. This will help you to connect with new people who really want the best for you, and sometimes, this is exactly what you need!

Exercise

Exercise is scientifically proven to boost your mood. When those endorphins kick in, you will soon find that there is no room for low self-esteem. The hard part is staying motivated. If you can, it helps to sign up with a personal trainer so that they can talk you through the exercises you need to do in order to change certain parts of your body. You can also sign up with The Club Fitness facilities as they can help you to really get in shape.

Express Yourself

When you have very low self-esteem it can be very easy to fall into the habit of wearing clothes that hide your body. It can also make it harder for you to wear your fave outfits. If you want to help yourself, then don’t shy away from clothes that make you feel good just because they aren’t trendy or fashionable. You should try and avoid covering yourself up! I know I need to be better at this, especially when it’s 100+° F in Las Vegas.

Another thing I do to combat my poor self-esteem is attend therapy. It really helps to simply talk it out.

•How do you combat negative talk and self-esteem? Please share below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!