Confidence is key in living life to the fullest, and these are my five ways to love the skin you’re in.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. We are all individuals and comparing ourselves to others is something that will knock your confidence down. Being happy and content about who we are is the only thing that matters.
- Start the day off with a positive thought. I wake up every morning and make it a point to think positively from the start. This gets the day started on the right foot and instead of telling yourself something negative, you hit the ground running with positive vibes running through your mind right away.
- Pick out things you love about yourself instead of focusing on the negative. Similar to waking up and thinking of something positive, whenever I look in the mirror I try to focus on the things that I love about myself instead of the things that need improvement. We all can have a bad day, but if you can look inside and find three things that you love about yourself every day instead of things you don’t like, you will begin to feel your confidence increase.
- Find things that make you feel relaxed and happy. Keeping a level head and even keeled mentality will help keep you relaxed and enjoying every day. My keys to living my life are happiness and confidence, and I work hard every day to keep both of those as high as they can possibly be. Family, friends, pets and keeping your day busy with things you are passionate about helps me stay positive about who I am.
- Surround yourself with people who love and support you. Having a support network is one of the biggest keys to life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the everlasting love and support of my family and friends, and even when things aren’t going well, they are always there to help lift me back up and see the sunnier side of things. This plays a big role in helping my stay both strong and confident.
- And lastly, number six (I lied in saying five!): we have to love the skin we are in, because it is the only skin we have. Skin doesn’t have to mean the physicality of the word, but when I think of loving the skin I am in, I think of loving who I am both on the inside and the outside. Being beautiful isn’t about anything on the outside. Beauty is strength, courage, confidence, intelligence and the qualities that make us who we are. I encourage everyone to continue to work to be strong, be confident and to keep working hard, because if you do, you too will love the skin you’re in!
About the author:
Aly Raisman is a two-time gold medalist, World Champion and USA Gymnastics Team Captain. She serves as a spokesperson for Walden Behavioral Care and Walden Center for Eating Disorder Education and Research.
