start your day off with a boost of confidence!

Who doesn’t want to be confident? To feel good about themselves? To start every day with a genuine smile on their face? Unfortunately for many of us this is not the reality. Most of us fail to recognize our own positive traits and characteristics. In fact, we often are unable to take in positive comments - and instead focus purely on the negative. We constantly compare, critique, and tear ourselves apart. And it all starts when we look in the mirror first thing in the morning.

Maybe there are bags under your eyes, your laugh lines look a little more pronounced, or your skin is red and irritated. Or maybe you look like a cover model ready to go. It doesn’t matter what is actually staring back at us. It is all about our perception. So how can we change it? How can we give ourselves the boost of confidence we so desperately deserve? These are a few techniques to help you embrace your incredible self this New Year.

Tell Yourself You Are Great. Sometimes we don’t hear it enough. That we are special, beautiful, talented, or fun to be around. It’s true. The reassurance we crave doesn’t always happen when we need it most. Well, guess what? You don’t need to wait for someone to compliment you. Compliment yourself! Tell yourself you will be great – and you will be. Simple as that! 

Practise Smiling At Yourself In The Mirror. Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful smile? Show off those pearly whites when you wake up in the morning. Once you have finished brushing your teeth, take a minute for yourself. Use that minute to smile at your reflection in the mirror. It is a proven fact that smiling can benefit your mood, make you happier, and even increase feelings of confidence. When in doubt, smile, smile, and smile some more. You might also want to try Mirror Work, which was made popular by acclaimed self-help author, Louise Hay.

Do Something That Makes You Feel Good. Getting up and getting ready tends to be rushed and tedious. That is why it is so important to do something small for yourself. Put on your favourite perfume, watch a YouTube video while you straighten your hair, make yourself a hearty breakfast, or spend a few minutes reading the morning paper. The most important thing is to focus on you. The more in touch you are with your needs, the happier you will be. Talk about a fun way to boost your confidence.

Look At (And Repeat!) Positive Affirmations. Words are powerful. They can dramatically alter the way we see ourselves and the world around us. How can you use words to your advantage? Grab a stack of post it notes and a pen. Then get writing! Jot down little notes for yourself to look at when you wake up. It could be something like, you are amazing or you are going to rock that presentation! Anything you like. Or you could write down inspirational sayings, cute quotes, or body positive mantras.

Treat yourself with the love and respect you deserve. These confidence boosting tips are the perfect way to start each and every morning on the right foot. Trust me: the rest of the day will follow suit!

On another note....my latest YouTube video is up! It is a vlog of my Disneyland experience. So, if you have ever wondered what the happiest place on earth looks like during the holidays, feel free to watch and enjoy.

How do you boost your confidence?

xo Shannon