Feel better about yourself RIGHT NOW!

We women tend to be the worst critics of our own body

What if we were to practice radical self-acceptance? What if we were to stand in front of the mirror and behold ourselves with the same note of awe from that John Legend song? Love your curves and all your edges, All your perfect imperfections.

Give yourself some props! These (non-cheesy) quotes will help you learn to love your awesome body.

1. I am enough
   People need to hear this all the time. There is nobody and nothing in the entire world that can complete you other than God. You have got to realize that all you ever need to overcome and to thrive… lies right in you. Don’t go seeking for validation from elsewhere. Instead, look inside.
2. My body is perfect in its own way and doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s
3. Thighs, thank you for carrying me to where I want to go
   Did you walk to work? Have a dance party in your living room? Appreciate that!
4. My body is a vessel for my awesomeness
5. I’ve totally got this
   Look how far you’ve come, all you’ve been through, and yet you are still standing strong. Let that push you and motivate you each day. Let it give you the grace to summon strength from within and realize you are enough. Impossible is just a word – and even the letters spell out ‘I’m possible.’
6. I am unique
   You are one-of-a-kind. No one can take your place, and you can’t take anyone’s place. Spend time watering your grass; no need to check whether your neighbour’s grass is greener or not.
7. I have tremendous gratitude to my body for all the miraculous things it does for me each and every moment
8. I am not going to settle for less
   You should have standards. It is important you remind yourself every single day that “I’m not going settle for less than… I am going to keep working and stay focused until I reach my goal. Even then I’ll keep working because success is a journey, not a destination.”
   So wake up each day and tell yourself “I will NOT settle for less today in my spiritual walk, academics, workplace, business, finances, health, relationships, etc.
9. It’s okay for me to love myself.
10. My heart is courageous, kind, and loving.
11. I’m not going to say anything about myself that I wouldn’t say about my best friend – The power of positive thinking can sometimes sound trite, but it turns out that we do listen to how we talk about ourselves. So cut the negative self-chatter!
12. As long as I am good, kind, and hold myself with integrity, it doesn’t matter what other people think of me
13. No images I see in the media are real. All magazine photos are airbrushed, photoshopped, and distorted.  No one looks like the images in the magazines so I will stop comparing myself to unrealistic images
14. Being skinny or fat is not my identity. I am identified by who I am on the inside, a loving, wonderful person.
15. I am overcoming negativity and building a positive attitude towards myself
16. I deserve to be confident and happy
17. My body is beautiful and I respect it deeply
18. Even if I don’t see how amazing I am, there is someone who does. I am loved and admired
19. No one has the power to make me feel bad about myself without my permission
20. My body is an instrument not just an ornament – Run, jump, play, work, paint masterpieces, or write the next great novel: The truth is our bodies were made to do, not just be. So stop thinking of yourself in a cosmetic way and embrace all the things your body is that let you express who you are!

This principle of using positive affirmations in baby steps applies to any area in which you want to use affirmations. Start with something neutral that’s easier to believe, and work your way up.

Most important of all: don’t forget to give yourself a ton of credit for even the smallest steps of progress. Baby steps do not mean baby progress! It takes an incredible amount of courage sometimes, just to begin.

Now go forth and love your beautiful self no matter what size, shape or age you are!