5 Hangups to Ditch
Humans have hangups– it’s true. No matter how hard we try, there are things that we get “stuck” on: our job, our appearance, our productivity, our vacation spots, our follower numbers. And while we’ll never be perfect (ever), it’s not okay to let ourselves dwell on the negative all the time. At a certain point– it’s time to just let it go.
It’s February, a month traditionally reserved for romantic love– but let’s make a real effort to love ourselves first! If you have any or all of these hangups, dedicate the next few weeks to exorcising them from your life–>
1. Keeping Score. Instagram likes. Countries visited. Partners. Salary. Weight. Twitter followers. Why are we so obsessed with numbers? Whatever your numerical insecurity may be, write it down on a big piece of paper, rip it up, and let it go.
2. Domestic Goddess. Look– you don’t have to be good at cooking. You don’t have to be good at cleaning. You don’t have to starch your whites or scrub your pots or know the correct way to chop an onion. If you’re in a situation where you feel pressure or anxiety because you aren’t a perfectly domesticated woman, you’re not in the right place. If you WANT to learn how to do these things, that’s awesome. But if you’re not interested– who cares?
3. Your proportions (AKA body image). Stop stressing about the different size charts at all your favorite stores– love every inch of your body (yes, the thick calves and the knobby knees and the freckly face and the waist that just won’t drop a centimeter and the big butt and the small boobs). Don’t know how? Start taking notes about everything your current body allows you to do (chase around your children, run a 5k, bend in yoga, make love to your partner, lift heavy boxes). Give yourself a genuine compliment every day. Embrace the things you love and you’ll find more and more to enjoy about your self…
4. Lose the label. I don’t mean label as in “I need a Louis Vuitton purse!” Thanks to lifestyle and interior blogs, we’re seeing a new wave of insecurity– do I have the hippest new toys for my toddler? Is my living room decked out with the trendiest art prints, the prettiest rugs? Do I drink from a new brand of water bottle that’s been featured on all my favorite bloggers’ instagrams? If you truly love a product featured somewhere, invest in it! But don’t hold yourself up to a standard of unreality– remember that everyone has a behind-the-scenes and, for the most part, we’re all sitting behind our phones and laptops living un-featured lives.
5. The Barbie Syndrome. This goes into the whole “having it all” hangup. I get it. I want it all too– but you have to remember that YOUR version of “all” doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else. We’re not Barbie– we can’t just change outfits and become a different super woman instantaneously! You can have everything you ever wanted and it still might not look like what the mainstream “perfect” looks like. Come to terms with that, feel confident with your choices, and you’re well on your way to a strong sense of self love!
What hangups are you stuck on? How do you battle self-doubt or insecurity? | top image via trash and treasure, bottom image via Tech 2 Gadget
