Let’s talk about 5 things to do to be the best you. You know the saying “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.” But what makes you feel beautiful inside and out? The reality is it doesn’t matter what others think about you, it’s what you think about yourself. I love that Amy Schumer movie, “I Feel Pretty.” It’s just a great movie about a woman who believes she is beautiful and goes about life with that confidence. I would love it if every person could go into life with that confidence without having a head injury, as the character did in the movie. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend it.
If you need a little boost in how to step into your good feelings. Try some of these tips.
Trying Something New
The world is a huge place with lots of things to discover, people to meet, places to be, and events to witness or experience. Although doing what you know and love consistently isn’t a bad thing, it is also a good thing if you explore. You might see some things you haven’t seen before and might end up liking them. You might discover a new part of yourself that has been sleeping inside you all this time, something that you’re actually naturally good at and you weren’t unaware of. Knowing and experiencing new things will most likely lead you to the path of making yourself better every day. Try something that you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have the confidence or feel like you’d be good at doing. I’ve always wanted to take a cycling class and finally did and loved it. I felt like I wouldn’t be good enough or that everyone in there was so young and fit. Turns out, they may be younger but that doesn’t mean I’m not as strong and fit as others. Get out of your comfort zone and explore. You may just have a blast and make a new friend in the process.
Going for a New Look
Sometimes, going for a new look is for the better. Sometimes, seeing yourself in the mirror and seeing something new makes can make you feel rejuvenated and fresh again. I recently got a great haircut at a new place and it’s bringing me so much joy and love for my curls. You could freshen up your makeup look. As many of us are taking off our masks, we can now put on some new makeup. Switching things up whether, with hair, makeup or clothes can help you have a fresh outlook on your life. Remember, none of those changes are permanent unless you get a tattoo. But if you want to try the non surgical nose jobs in Arcadia, CA, Dr. Yu can give you a new look. So be bold and brave, try a new look. Once you face that mirror again, you’ll see something has changed… you just might love the look smiling back at you.
Taking Care of Yourself More
Self-care is not selfish. Remember what they tell you on a plane, put your mask on first before helping others. It may be a challenge for you to venture into the self-care realm, but it’s so worth it. Women in particular fall into the caring for others mode and the expense of self-care. Women are often so focused on how to make things better for everyone or making sure everyone is happy, that self-care just gets shelved as not having time for it.
Self-care can be as simple as getting a healthy meal and getting to bed early. How about taking a bath or getting a monthly massage? When you take time for yourself, everyone benefits. If I don’t get in my daily workouts and meditation, it’s hard for me to have the patience and bandwidth to help others. It’s like filling my gas tank daily so that I can drive to the office. Daily battles as a woman are no joke. Even though many women work outside of the home, they still end up doing several more hours per week in household chores and childcare. Take things slowly and celebrate small victories whenever you achieve new small milestones. Have a better diet, sleep more, drink water and all the basic stuff. Taking care of yourself allows you to enjoy your life now rather than waiting for some future joy.
Exploring New Adventures
After all those trials and challenges you have conquered, after learning how to take care of yourself more and learning when to rest, sometimes, you also need to spend your time not just working and resting, go out! Explore the world! Travel! It will be worth it. You’ll be fascinated with how much you can learn just by meeting new people, or by being in a new place. Explore new adventures. Be brave. The only thing stopping you from learning and exploring is yourself. It’s important to work and rest, yes, but remember you also deserve some adrenaline flowing through your veins. Feel the gust of fresh unfamiliar air.
Exploring new adventures doesn’t mean just traveling, it can also be a new adventure with your new hobby. Try archery, or try golf or anything else you haven’t tried before. Let go of that high school fear of what others may think. What matters most is what you’ll say to yourself. Learning to validate yourself means not needing to be validated by others. Enjoy. Explore. You deserve it.
Getting Rid of Toxic Relationships
Cutting ties may be hard but sometimes it’s the right thing to do. Getting rid of toxic relationships isn’t easy. Especially when it’s with someone who has been in your life for a long time. If it’s an old friend, spend less time with them. Maybe over time, they may change, and if not, then you don’t need to put energy into the relationship. But always remember that if a relationship is costing you your mental health, sometimes, it’s worth it to just cut ties and sever the relationship. No one deserves to endure the pain of a relationship that’s depleting you. I have found that when a person in my life feels like they suck my energy or I feel dread when I see them calling or texting, I give them less energy. If they call, I may just respond with a short text. If you don’t let them take your energy, then they will most likely move on to someone else who will let them. Keep busy with friends and family that feed your soul and bring you love and joy. Doing that will take up your time and you’ll have no time for the toxic people.
Ending a friendship that’s toxic is good for both of you. You both deserve peace and sometimes peace comes with a price. A huge disclaimer though is that, learn to know when to cut ties, too. Just because you don’t like someone doesn’t mean you are to cut ties with them immediately. No. Learning when and how will make you the best you can be. Personally, this is a difficult area of my life as I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I have learned, a toxic relationship just drags down the energy and keeps me from being the best I can be.
It’s funny, but this list seems like what you would tell your own kid as they enter a new school or a new job. Pretty basic yet still challenging. You can do this. Pick one thing to work on this week and as you experience the changes in your life it will motivate you to do more. Good luck and have fun with it.
