BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER
Most of us cringe any time we receive a compliment from someone else, so the thought of throwing a few compliments your own way can give you the full-on ick. Whether it’s learning to celebrate your successes or just valuing the little wins, it’s time we all got a little better at giving ourselves a virtual high five. We spoke to Life Coach Michelle Elman (Michelleelman.com) to get some tips on how to unleash your self-love.
1 “Get into the habit of saying thank you when someone else compliments you. Even if you don’t believe it, just accept it instead of arguing against it. Just because you don’t see it, it doesn’t mean the compliment is fake or false. It can still be valid.”
2 “You can start to train yourself to believe in these compliments, as every belief (positive or negative) is formed by finding evidence to back it up. These beliefs will actually shape how we see the world and how we react to things like compliments. Any time you have a negative thought, think of the opposite and then find three pieces of evidence to back it up. For example, if you feel you are ugly, tell yourself you are beautiful and write down three reasons why. After a while, it will have a foundation to become something you genuinely believe.”
3 “Stop apologising for your successes and be proud of them. When you’re sharing news of your achievements with your friends, start by saying, ‘I’m feeling proud of myself because...’ That way, you’re taking ownership of those feelings. But, ultimately, you just need to get up and shout about your wins. If people aren’t willing to celebrate that with you, then should you really have them in your life?”
4 “Give out more compliments. Once you get used to recognising the positives in other people, then it becomes easier to notice the positives in yourself.”