A holiday I can get behind

Wednesday visits us again, and brings with it the glorious sunshine that has become a familiar face in the recent weeks. I have attempted to prepare myself an iced coffee in a teacup, which has evidently failed due to a significant lack in my barista skills, but I can’t complain on a day like today.

I perch myself upon a fold-up chair in the garden as I sit, soaking up some of the ravishing rays that beam down upon me.

Greetings, July.

The month in which I was born has arrived. With it not being a leap year, today is pretty much the exact midpoint of 2019. 183 days have passed, and there’s still 182 to go.

Some may not think much of that prospect, but I note it as an excellent time to reflect on life at this very given moment.Truth be told, I am not where I expected to be by this point in time, but I am feeling confident and have an optimistic mindset for the future.

Today is also the day in which our friends tie the knot. Unfortunately, they are to wed in America whilst I’m over here in England, but I have sent them a little gift which should be winging its way over to them as I type. #shoutouttothemarriedcouple

It gets me thinking about what else is going on around the Globe.

Did you know several holidays share this date? No, I didn’t either. There's a good reason for that when you realise that there are celebrations such as ‘Eat Your Beans Day' and ‘Stay Out of the Sun Day.’

I certainly won’t be staying out of the sun, nor am I too keen on the consumption of beans, but that’s okay because it just so happens to also be ‘Disobedience Day’.

…

I don’t know who comes up with these wacky ideas but they are pretty far-fetched.

However, there is one in particular that I do approve of;

Compliment Your Mirror Day

Now, I’m assuming they mean your reflection, rather than the actual mirror itself. After all, a whole day dedicated to telling an inanimate object that it has a beautiful framework and fabulous fixtures seems pretty pointless, don’t you think?

Yet consciously looking in a mirror and noticing the wonderful parts of yourself is never a bad idea.

Growing up, I struggled with body confidence, which had an affect on my overall self-esteem and the way in which I viewed myself as a person. I could find a flaw in just about every single part of me, and it wasn’t a healthy way to live.

Thankfully, I learnt to love myself and the skin I’m in, but it wasn’t an easy ride. A few changes needed to be made in order for me to turn my life around. Here’s just a few of the actions I took which lead me to embrace self-love.

1. Stop reading fashion magazines - As we know, the media sells what is perceived to be ‘perfection’, without informing us of how heavily edited and altered images can be. Also, there’s no mention of how unhappy these models we admire could potentially be in such a demanding career that leans heavily on their appearance - so why do we aspire to be like them? Particularly in magazines, the articles and the overall content are sculptured around the advertisements they’ve been paid to print alongside. For instance, the latest bikini trends next to an advertisement for a brand-new gym? It’s not a coincidence. Stop reading fashion magazines and throw them away.

2. Distance yourself from negative personalities - I used to be surrounded by people who consistently drew the conversation onto topics such as dieting, weight loss and the not-so-fun game of comparing yourself to others. Not only that, but they would make spiteful comments behind the backs of others, and it only got my mind whirling around the idea of what they truly thought of me. It wasn’t a pleasant scene, and mentally, it got me down. Nowadays I have a few close friends who eat pizza shamelessly and just enjoy life. Having lots of friends is useless if they’re not really friends at all. Find people who support you and have similar interests and ideas. If you're having trouble finding those sorts of people, don't be afraid to spend some time simply befriending yourself.

3. Follow artists, not models or social media influencers - eliminating magazines and toxic friends is one thing, but if you’re still gazing upon models and influencers on Instagram, Twitter and various other platforms, you’re still carrying huge weight with you every time you scroll through your phone. Unfollow and find the fun. I follow several art pages in places of those I ditched, and I have never felt so inspired and peaceful.

4. Find a hobby - Getting into amateur dramatics not only helped massively in the process of rebuilding my confidence and overcoming my social anxiety, it also made me aware of a talent and a passion that I still hold dearly in my heart to this day. Realising what you’re good at opens your eyes to how great you really are and how much potential you do have. Push yourself to try something new. Who knows where it could lead...

5. Treat yourself with respect - Body and mind have a special relationship. I strongly believe that when I feel physically good, it reflects in my mental wellbeing. I try to eat healthily, drink plenty of water, and do a little bit of light exercise each day. It gets those endorphins flowing, and sticking to something as positive as looking after yourself gives you a sense of achievement.

6. Look in the mirror - Don't be a stranger to yourself. I set myself a challenge a few years ago. Every time I sat in the passenger seat of my mum’s car, I would unfold the sun visor and look at myself in its little mirror. Then I went on to take a moment to observe myself in every mirror I came across. This was a progression task. At first, I detested it, as all I could see was what I believed to be an ugly reflection. Yet, overtime, I started to notice little things that I liked about myself. My perception gradually changed and I would begin to see that my reflection wasn’t so insulting after all. Something about familiarising myself with that reflection made me have compassion for myself, and I stopped being so hateful and unkind. I befriended who I saw in the mirror, and I will forever recommend that technique to anyone who struggles with body image and self-confidence.
   

If you extract anything from this blog post, I hope it’s that technique - and I really do hope you give the other methods a shot, too. I don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn't acted on the problems I once had.

So, what are you waiting for? Go check yourself out!

I wish you all a very successful Compliment Your Mirror Day.

03.July.2019 Wednesday