Building a Positive Self-Perception

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Can you look into the mirror and tell yourself “I love you, me”?

Can you deeply stare at every part of your face and body and feel nothing but love, appreciation and fulfillment? What about your personality? Are you confident in your role in society or amongst your friends? Many college students cannot say those four words to themselves or hold those feelings of self-confidence.

Thanks to the internet and social media, we are inundated with images of beautiful people who seem to have accomplishment after accomplishment every day. That flood of information makes us feel like we aren’t pretty enough, we aren’t doing enough with our lives, or to put it plainly, we just aren’t enough. We pick out everything we don’t like about ourselves rather than point out the parts that we love. Though everyone struggles from time to time, you deserve to be happy.

You deserve to feel nothing but pride when you think of your personality and appearance.

First: What is Self-Concept?

Your sense of self refers to your perception of the collection of characteristics that define you, including appearance, personality traits, abilities, likes and dislikes and the things that motivate you. Each of these contributes to your self-image and your unique identity as a person, embodying the answer to the question, “Who am I?”

It is an ideal that is very much linked to theories of positive thinking, manifestation and the law of attraction. Yet, self-concept may not always match reality as it is constructed in one individual’s mind and filtered through the lens of the world around them. So, it is important to remember that while you may feel inadequate, that is not how the world sees you. They see you as the positive and unique person that you are.

Here are some uplifting tips and tricks from us at VALLEY, so you can see yourself how others see your beautiful self.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
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Do you ever see that person on Instagram who seems to live the perfect life? Lavish vacations, picture-perfect meals, expensive outfits. Well… they don’t. Nobody’s life is ever that perfect.

It is natural to compare ourselves to others, but every person’s journey is their own. Work toward your own goals. Be your own person. Feel proud of who you were in the past, who you are now, and who you will become in the future.

Make Time to do What Makes you Happy
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Are you passionate about something? Does doing something make you feel good? Embrace that. Prioritizing your happiness and mental health is extremely important, and doing what you love will help you feel empowered. So, make the time!

Focus on the Positive
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There are a lot of things that you cannot control, but your attitude is not one of them. Things may not go exactly as you plan. Find a way to feel good about what you have accomplished. 

Forgive Yourself
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So, you make a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. It is important in these situations to be aware of the effort that you put into things and not be too hard on yourself if something doesn’t go right. Try your best and don’t give up. If all fails, you can try again tomorrow.

Surround Yourself with Positive People
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Surround yourself with positive people who “fill your cup.” These are people who love and support you for who you are. People who lift you up rather than putting you down make you feel better about yourself.

Be Grateful
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You may look at yourself and feel bad about your situation, but there are always things to be grateful for in your life. Nothing is too little. Gratitude leads to a sense of inner peace and happiness. Keep a gratitude journal and write three things that you are grateful for every day.

Practice Daily Affirmations
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Affirmations are reminders that you give yourself. You may choose to remind yourself about your accomplishments, or personality traits about yourself that you admire. When they are said repeatedly over a long duration of time, your self-esteem will grow.

A positive self-perception won’t come overnight, but if you practice these tips, then over time you will grow to love yourself in the mirror. Your loved ones do love you, so you should be able to build a love for yourself.

Tweet or tag us @VALLEYmag with the ways in which you build your self-esteem!

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