Confidence is in the eye of the beholder. This means that anyone can be confident on some level because the mind creates the idea of confidence. Sure, there are bullies and situations where your confidence can easily get shattered, but remember that you can pick yourself up and dust off any feelings of negativity by adding the following 3 tips on how to be more confident each day to your lifestyle.

1. Accept your experiences from a loving perspective.

We do a great job at complaining and blaming others. It empowers our ego and puts us in a domineeringly separated state of thinking. Additionally, it stops us from ever really feeling grateful for our lives, so let us remember to appreciate our experiences (even when some are very challenging). When people put you down or bully you in any way (bullying is when someone makes you feel like you are not good enough for being you), you do not have to be defined by this. Accept this behavior from them, but know that you do not have to consistently interact with people who do not love and respect you for being you.

2. Love yourself from the inside out.

This is sometimes hard to do because there are so many things out there that can make us dislike ourselves — from body shaming to age insecurities. These concepts are not made out to make us feel bad, but for people who do not love themselves from the inside out, they might feel like their insecurities are somehow publicized in regards to their outward appearance or when a highly anticipated expectation has somehow failed. When you lose a job or break up with your boyfriend, loving yourself can be hard, but that is all the more reason to try harder. Loving yourself means that you are beautiful for being you, right now, without anything needed to change or enhance you in any way. Look in the mirror each day, every morning, and every night before bed, and say “I love you” to yourself, calmly and quietly. Baby steps can make you love yourself more and, in essence, raise your confidence level.

3. Laugh and be playful.

We forget how to be childlike and playful as we get older. We think we need to put on this stoic act and conform to whatever club/team/company we are a part of. This diminishes our capacity to be confident because it just pressures us to be someone we’re not. There is nothing wrong with working for a prestigious company or getting into a fabulous college party, but remember to still be you and to laugh with your loved ones. Have movie night once a week and play board games. You do not have to forget about who you were just because you are in a new life experience. Stay humble, learn each day, and enjoy your own company just as well.

At the end of the day, all of our experiences can benefit our confidence if we let them. Let your feelings and emotions be the teacher, and observe them from a perspective where you do not have to always take things too personally.

For more tips on learning to love yourself and for healthy recipes that you can make, check out my health and wellness website: Lusciously Levi.