With social media always accessible at our fingertips, its natural for many of us to view life as a competition. Thanks to celebrity icons like Kim Kardashian and other seemingly perfect social media influencers, society has distorted its perception of what it means to be beautiful and strong, causing young men and women to create unrealistic expectations for themselves and their peers.

Issues pertaining to confidence and self-acceptance continues to be a prevalent problem, especially for young women. From the beginning of time, girls are taught to be aware of how they look compared to others. Growing up, girls quickly learn how to alter their appearance to meet societal standards. Shaving their legs, applying make-up, and dressing a certain way are just a few ways in which theyre trained to conform to the female stereotype. Those that fail to comply with these gender norms are oftentimes outcasted or scrutinized by their peers. And while traditional ideas of gender identity and gender expression has recently been challenged, women still struggle to overcome the cultural construct of beauty.

Given all of this, its no wonder why women often dont feel comfortable in their own skin. Regardless of any insecurities you may have, its important that you strive to be your biggest supporter, rather than your own worst critic. Although its easier said than done, there are various steps you can take to help you stop comparing yourself to others, recognize your self-worth, and above all, become confident in who you really are.

Here are five tips you can try to become comfortable in your own skin:

1. Take care of your body

Health and happiness often go hand-in-hand. When our health is hindered, its normal to feel down, and vice versa. Thats why its imperative to take care of your body on a consistent basis. Paying close attention to general health habits like your diet, sleep schedule, daily water intake, and hygiene can significantly improve your energy levels, overall mood, and much more. Plus, if your imperfections are geared towards one of these health habits, itll allow you to prioritize these issues effectively and practice self-love regularly.

Lets say, for example, your lack of self-esteem stems from your acne-prone skin. Perhaps the issue relates to your dietary habits or maybe your daily skin-care routine. Whatever it may be, taking time to concentrate on your bodys hygienic needs can give you the chance to not only determine the root of your concerns, but also find an adequate solution for your skin. Whether its watching what you eat or incorporating a particular acne treatment into your skin-care regimen, paying mind to your daily habits can help keep you feeling good and looking great every day of the week!

2. Be self-aware

In order to gain confidence, its important to work on taking control of your thoughts and owning them.Having self-awareness allows you to manage your thoughts practically and understand why you are the way that you are. It offers you an in-depth analysis of your thoughts, feelings, and certain behaviors.In turn, this will allow you to create better relationships, strengthen your communication, and become more compassionate toward yourself. Unfortunately, though, self-awareness doesnt just happen overnight as generally this is something that develops over time and with practice.

To become more self-aware, consider performing one of the following techniques:

3. Embrace your uniqueness

As cliche as it may sound, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Part of becoming comfortable in your own skin involves embracing your uniqueness. Everyone is different from one another, which is why the idea of beauty should not have to suffer from tunnel vision. The truth is, we all identify with distinct body frames, sizes, races, nationalities, the list goes on and on. These limitless characteristics are what gives us an identity and make each of us our own kind of beautiful. Rather than getting down on yourself about how your appearance contrasts from your peers, try to focus on embracing your differences. Remember that theres no right and wrong way to look. A small, petite-looking woman is equally as attractive as a tall, curvy-looking woman. If everyone shared the same features and mannerisms, this world would be half as interesting. So, take pride in your stride and embrace your uniqueness for all that it is.

4. Find a positive role model to look up to

A positive role model can do wonders for your self-confidence. Finding someone to look up to can influence you to become the best version of yourself. They can teach you valuable lessons relating to hope, integrity, and optimism, which can give you something to strive towards. In addition, they can also use their stories to inspire your individual journey to becoming comfortable in your own skin. Many role models share insights from their personal experiences to shed light on certain topics that can often be difficult to talk about. Canadian fashion model, Winnie Harlow, for example, is a role model for women everywhere battling a skin condition known as vitiligo. Harlow has dealt with vitiligo throughout her life and has used her model platform to act as both a spokesperson and activist for women facing this issue. Because of icons like her, women have become more empowered to speak their truth and spread messages of self-acceptance and body positivity.

5. Incorporate affirmations into your daily routine

Finally, incorporate positive affirmations into your daily routine. The Law of Attraction is a method that can teach you how to speak positive affirmations, or sentences, every day to bring you closer to attracting whatever it is youre focusing on. Youll want to tailor your affirmations to help you overcome your inner barriers and self-doubt. Use phrases that offer you inspiration and encouragement to be who you are. Start by repeating these phrases in front of your mirror when you first wake up and even speak them throughout your day.

Sayings like, I am enough, or, I am comfortable and confident in my own skin, are a couple of ways to phrase your affirmations in a way thats motivational. Even if you find it difficult to believe in these sayings at first, its perfectly okay. Positive affirmations are designed to reflect what you want to be true and build self-belief in your subconscious mind. As you continue to repeat these phrases over time, these daily positive affirmations should allow you to reshape your perceptions of yourself and the world around you.

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Practicing Self-Love: Becoming Comfortable In Your Own Skin Is A Process - GirlTalkHQ