We’re all different, but the one thing we have in common is that none of us are perfect. Many things make us who we are - such as personality, background, race, gender, religion and sexuality. Everyone has something to offer and everyone is entitled to live a happy and fulfilling life.
One way to work towards accepting yourself is by building self-confidence. Self-confidence is how you feel about yourself in relation to others. If you have low self-confidence you may think less of yourself compared to other people. Perhaps you compare yourself negatively to other people and criticize yourself a lot.
If you have difficulty accepting yourself for who you are, it can impact on your mental health. Self esteem lies at the core of our psychological health and impacts every area of our lives. Instead of listening to the critical voice within, focus on defining your values and making decisions based on what you need rather than what you think you should want. The critical voice can be weakened by identifying realistic goals and setting small steps to achieve them.
Tips to build your confidence
Talk it out Whatever your worry or negative thought, there is always something you can do to make yourself feel better. Talking to someone (family, a friend, a health professional) will help you see things clearer and get a different perspective on a problem.
Find the good things There is beauty in everyone. Think about the things you like about yourself and the things you have done that make you feel good.
Focus on the positive Try to concentrate on positive things about yourself, this will help build your self confidence and self appreciation.
Keep a gratitude journal List 5 things you feel grateful for each day.
Do good deeds Helping someone else will make you feel good too. Try doing three nice things a day for others.
Enjoy the journey Make sure you have fun and do things you enjoy. This will make you feel happier and more positive about yourself.
Don’t be too hard on yourself If you make a mistake or things don’t go as you hoped, try to be kind to yourself. Instead of criticizing yourself, think about what happened and what you might do differently in the future.