How to Feel Comfortable in Your Own Skin
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
I had often heard the expression “what you are inside shows on your face.” However, I didn’t know what these words truly meant until one day some time ago.
That day, I took another long look in the mirror, and suddenly something clicked: My looks were not the problem—they never were. Somehow I understood that what I didn’t like about my face had nothing to do with my physical features. It was something else; something within myself that was reflecting out and causing me to feel unattractive, ill at ease, and unconfident.At that moment, I knew there were two things I needed to do. The first was to stop staring in the mirror. The second was to look at what was going on inside.
Soon, a friend recommended meditation, so I gave that a try. I checked into a two-day silent retreat.It’s possible that a silent retreat may not be for everyone, but, for me, it was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. The two days forced me to meditate, reflect, and “be” with myself. There were also no distractions, such as telephone, TV, books, or computers. Was the experience disagreeable? Initially, yes. Was it painful? Sometimes, but it allowed me to bring forth a lot of valuable self-information and one remarkable realization: I became conscious of how unnatural I felt. In the time I was there, I recognized that I was not uncomfortable in that setting because I didn’t know how to be with myself. I was uncomfortable because I didn’t know how to be myself.
If you’re also looking to feel more at ease with yourself, I recommend:
Honor your body
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
I had often heard the expression “what you are inside shows on your face.” However, I didn’t know what these words truly meant until one day some time ago.
That day, I took another long look in the mirror, and suddenly something clicked: My looks were not the problem—they never were. Somehow I understood that what I didn’t like about my face had nothing to do with my physical features. It was something else; something within myself that was reflecting out and causing me to feel unattractive, ill at ease, and unconfident.At that moment, I knew there were two things I needed to do. The first was to stop staring in the mirror. The second was to look at what was going on inside.
Soon, a friend recommended meditation, so I gave that a try. I checked into a two-day silent retreat.It’s possible that a silent retreat may not be for everyone, but, for me, it was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. The two days forced me to meditate, reflect, and “be” with myself. There were also no distractions, such as telephone, TV, books, or computers. Was the experience disagreeable? Initially, yes. Was it painful? Sometimes, but it allowed me to bring forth a lot of valuable self-information and one remarkable realization: I became conscious of how unnatural I felt. In the time I was there, I recognized that I was not uncomfortable in that setting because I didn’t know how to be with myself. I was uncomfortable because I didn’t know how to be myself.
If you’re also looking to feel more at ease with yourself, I recommend:
Honor your body
I can never say enough about how important it is to celebrate your body. It is your temple. Make a list of the things you need to do to take care of yourself so you feel healthy and grounded, and then schedule them into your day. It’s easier to feel good about who you are, when you make your needs - priorities.
Maintain a healthy, positive mind
Maintain a healthy, positive mind
Creative writing has contributed greatly to my journey. It keeps my mind filled with positive thoughts. I also love to read, learn new things, and travel to different places.Doing what you love is an important step in loving who you are.
Maintain a happy, healthy spirit
Without inner peace, authenticity is fleeting. Consequently, I try and introspect daily and do my best to live where peace is found—in the present moment. Nothing helps my spirit soar as much as laughter. It helps me see the world through younger eyes and reminds me that, no matter what, every moment contains hope and possibilities.Take time out to nurture your spirit every couple of months, take a break from your routine and go away somewhere where you can unwind whether that means practicing yoga, walking on the beach, or simply relaxing. In order to be comfortable with yourself, you first need to be comfortable just being. And always keep in mind…Finding your authenticity—finding yourself—will help you feel your beauty. When you endeavour to be who you are and be true to yourself, you will automatically feel attractive and unique.
Also, it is important to remind yourself that beauty and self worth are never dependent upon the approval of others. Quite the contrary, they are very much self-defined and self-created. You are the only person who can do this. "Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" and lo! behold! The power to be beautiful lies not in the eyes of others. It comes from deep within you. Once you are at peace with who you are the world has little power to upset or disrupt your life.
Also, it is important to remind yourself that beauty and self worth are never dependent upon the approval of others. Quite the contrary, they are very much self-defined and self-created. You are the only person who can do this. "Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" and lo! behold! The power to be beautiful lies not in the eyes of others. It comes from deep within you. Once you are at peace with who you are the world has little power to upset or disrupt your life.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! - The full article (by Mary Dunlop) can be read at
ReplyDeletehttp://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-feel-comfortable-in-your-own-skin/
Namaste