Here are some exercises you can practice to grow self-confidence and self-love over time:

How to Boost Self-Love and Self-Confidence

Loving ourselves and being more confident in who we are is the ultimate goal for most people, allowing them to live happier and healthier lives. However, what most of us don’t realize is that building self-worth and self-acceptance is something we need to continuously work on in order to achieve; it won’t simply happen overnight. So, here are some exercises you can practice to grow self-confidence and self-love over time:

Practice positive affirmations regularly

Considering the fact that low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in our abilities generally stem from our own negative thoughts, many people make an effort to change their way of thinking to a more positive and encouraging outlook. One of the most popular exercises for achieving this is practising positive affirmations, whether they relate to body image or traits, skills and abilities. When you start repeating positive sentences to yourself every day, such as “I look absolutely stunning in this outfit” or “I’m intelligent, capable, and I’m going to achieve success”, you will be able to develop a more optimistic and supportive mindset.

Take an objective look in the mirror

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Start by looking at your whole body in the mirror, and then comment on the things you notice in the reflection. However, aim to be as objective and unbiased as possible, just like when you’re receiving compliments from other people. Think of sentences such as “Those eyes are so beautiful and kind” or “Your smile is so bright and inviting”. This is another wonderful activity that will allow you to build confidence and self-love, and finally come to the conclusion that your body is an essential aspect of you that needs and deserves to be loved.

Explore your body more intimately

Besides getting to know your body in the mirror, on a more superficial level, it would be quite beneficial to explore it in a more intimate way as well. Only once you get familiar with every curve, nook and cranny, and when you learn exactly what your body enjoys, can you truly understand your body more deeply, and build a healthier and stronger relationship with it.

Learn how to accept compliments

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Another quite contradictory aspect of low self-confidence is the fact that we tend to dismiss genuine compliments, although that’s exactly the time when we need them the most. Start by simply tolerating compliments you receive and acknowledging they exist, instead of instantly disregarding them. It would also be a good idea to have an answer prepared in advance, like “How kind” or “Thank you”, which you could automatically respond with. Over time, you will get more used to receiving positive feedback, and you’ll learn how to accept compliments in a better way, allowing you to boost your self-esteem.

Swap criticism for compassion

When our confidence is low, we tend to destroy it even more by being overly critical of ourselves, which is never useful or beneficial in any way. Instead, we need to replace this negative habit with self-compassion. When you start to become too critical of your characteristics and actions, think about what you would say to a close friend in the same situation, and then repeat it to yourself as well. This is a much kinder and more compassionate way of dealing with mistakes and negative thoughts.

While improving confidence and boosting self-love is never an easy task, these incredible activities will allow you to strengthen your relationship with yourself, and direct you towards a healthy path of self-acceptance.

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Photo by Jasmin Chew on Unsplash