3 Ways to Love Yourself Better

I've always wondered... if my self esteem had to do primarily with the way I look, why it is that even when I meet my own perceived standards of beauty, I still seem to lack self esteem.

Here's the harsh truth around it ladies, you could drop 20 pounds, gain 20 pounds, darken your brows, lighten your hair, wear high heels, wear no heels, and if you didn't begin with self-love, none of those things will magically bring it to you. The reality of the matter is that self-esteem does not necessarily have to do with just the way you look! We derive our sense of actualization and validation usually from sources that mean nothing to us, when we should be looking inwards instead.

So here are our top 3 tips - unconventional as they may be - on how to LOVE yourself, inside out. Starting now!

1. Challenge yourself

Whether you set out to master a new move in yoga class, learn a language or decide to get over your biggest fear, challenging yourself to master something — and then doing it — will give you a huge boost in self-confidence.

When you're feeling low, it's important to do something you love and feel good doing. So lay on the couch and watch your favorite movie. Cook up a meal for friends. Take a run through your neighborhood. By doing something you're good at and that brings you pleasure, you'll feel more competent, accomplished and capable of handling any task that comes your way.

From joining a knitting group to signing up for martial arts classes to taking your first whitewater rafting trip, if there's something you've always wanted to do, but keep finding reasons to put it off, stop procrastinating and get it done. Not only will you feel more confident for making the decision to just do it, you'll also get excited about the new things you'll be learning.