We are approaching swimsuit season! That means new cuts, new trends, and, for many, new anxieties. Research shows that approximately 50% of young teen girls in America report being unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to nearly 80% by the time girls reach 17 years of age. Advicesisters.com asked Dr. Simone, The Self Esteem Doctor and founder of the global online platform, The Self Esteem Doctor Academy about How to Enjoy Swimsuit Season and Love Your Body Right Now. And we’ve added some tips of our own.
It Doesn’t Matter What You Wear Just as Long as You Are There!
Do you remember when what you wore to the beach didn’t matter and you were just having fun?
When it comes to swimsuit season, the bottom line is that family, friends, and kids don’t need to remember how we look in a swimsuit, instead, they need to recall the fun summer adventures and connections we share. This season, we want to celebrate having fun and creating memories in our swimsuit-clad bodies!
Dr. Simone, fashion photo
Dr. Simone explains, “From a Barbizon modeling student in the 90’s to runway modeling and hosting a private Miami casting for Tyra Banks in ’09, and recently participating in Fort Lauderdale Fashion Week last year, I’ve seen all sides of the fashion industry.”
She remembers, one of the last critiques she received in the modeling industry, “You’re entirely too big, you need to lose major weight!” She knew that this statement did not – and should not – define her or anyone else.
More experiences along her journey helped shape Dr. Simone into the self-help expert for swimsuit season and beyond. While spending some time as a teacher, she was surprised when an 8-year-old student asked her, “Am I fat?” She quickly realized Theodore Roosevelt was correct in saying, “Comparison is the thief of all joy.” This is a good tip to remember.
Here are The Self Esteem Doctor’s 4 Tips to Conquer Swimsuit Season!
carry off your body with confidence and joy whatever shape you’re in
Expand Your Definition of Beauty:
Our society has become so narrow! The world is bigger than the handful of celebs and influencers we repeatedly see. Realize that there are many different expressions of beauty. If you prefer a rose and your bestie loves orchids, neither of you wins. Beauty is actually deep, dynamic, and changing and cannot be defined by one person or one set of criteria.
Stop Comparing;
When we look for the best in others but not in ourselves, we naturally feel inadequate, which lowers self-esteem. Realize that different is life! In reality, nobody wants a potluck dinner with a dozen plates of white rice. It’s the variety of flavors that make it deliciously crave worthy, which is true for all facets of life.
Be a Best Friend to Yourself:
A self-talk is a tool that is critical in self-love, it’s like the ultimate self-esteem-building life hack. Talk to yourself like you would talk to your BFF. You are the person you spend the most time with so you should not be ‘the most toxic’ person in your life. Use self-talk to ‘train your brain’ to more easily perceive your beauty – it will get easier and easier to appreciate yourself.
Get Comfortable with Compliments:
It’s so easy to dismiss compliments from others. But it shouldn’t be! It’s time to graciously acknowledge praise from others. It’s also time to give yourself compliments. (aka self-talk.)
Don’t Allow Body Shaming. Here are some more tips from advicesisters.com:
Social media isn’t reality. So much of what we see is photoshopped. It’s a mistake to think you should look like what you see on Instagram! You can’t unless you use a filter and can photoshop yourself.
If you are still self-conscious at the beach, wear a sexy sheer cover-up or sarong or a rash guard. Better yet, find some with UPF 50 to keep you covered from the sun’s damaging rays and you’ll save your skin. Avoiding too much sun exposure is a good idea, and also a good reason not to show “everything.”
Take the time to find clothes (especially swimwear) that fit you. It doesn’t matter what size the tag says as long as it flatters your body. Lands End and many other places also have mix and match pieces for swimwear. However, trying things on in a dressing room is a better idea if you want to know if an item will fit and flatter.
most of us don’t look like this, and we don’t have to!
Mean comments always come from someone who is insecure. Remember the old adage, “sticks, and stones might break my bones but names will never hurt me,” As former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt famously said: “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.“
If you want to lose/gain weight/get fit, that’s ok as long as you consult your doctor and do it in a safe way. Keep in mind that those celebs have an arsenal of cooks, trainers, etc. to keep them looking as they do. It’s their job. There is no one else like you and you should not try to be like someone else. Love who you are! If you find that difficult, remember this: If you can think it you can say it. If you can say it you can do it…and you will.”
To learn more self-esteem tactics from The Self Esteem Doctor, visit www.theselfesteemdoctoracademy.com/
Bio: Dr. Simone Alicia is blazing a powerful trail as an international self-esteem guru. As a former model and prior classroom teacher, Dr. Simone has intertwined her fashion industry knowledge, certification in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), Honorary Doctorate in Divinity, & membership in the Association for Integrative Psychology, to create The Self Esteem Doctor Academy. For more information about the Academy, visit https://www.theselfesteemdoctoracademy.com/.
To read more about Dr. Simone Alicia, visit https://www.theselfesteemdoctor.com/.
*This is an unpaid guest post from Dr. Simone Alicia with additions from advicesisters.com. Advicesisters.com does not endorse any specific product or service.