“To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.”

- Anonymous

From childhood we are sold on an ideal image of beauty, one few of us ever see reflected when we look in the mirror. This article will show you how you can look in the mirror and despite the ideal, see only a beautiful you.

When you look in the mirror, what’s the first thing you notice, and how does it make you feel? If you’re like most people, the first thing that catches your eye is probably your least favorite asset. If so, don’t worry you’re not alone. Here’s why. Can you guess how much money is spent in just one year by advertisers to sell us on the concept of the “ideal” image of beauty? Well, I can’t either but I do know this — it’s a lot of money, certainly somewhere in the billions of dollars!

So, technically, you can consider yourself brainwashed. From your earliest childhood days — whether you played with Action Man or Barbie — you’ve been receiving constant, consistent images telling you what beauty is supposed to look like. Never mind that these images are for the most part, anatomically impossible!

And, would you really want to look like Fabio anyway? Or Pam Anderson? Honestly? I’m guessing probably not.

So, here’s how you can build your confidence with the body nature gave you:

1. Look in the mirror.

2. This time, really look at yourself. Reflect on the compliments you have received. Do people tell you how great your hair is? How beautiful your eyes are? That you have a nice smile? Try to see what they see.

3. Take it all in. Stand far enough away from the mirror so that you can take it all in. What do you see? Find at least three positive things.

4. Now, get up close. Really close. Look at your eyes — the irises. What color are they? Are they all one color or are there flecks of various colors? How would you describe them using positive analogies or adjectives?

5. Now, smile. What does your smile convey? Warmth? Happiness?

6. Find at least three characteristics you like best about yourself. Then accentuate them as you dress to go out. If you love your eyes, make sure your hair doesn’t cover them up. Love your lips? Make sure to keep them soft and moisturized. Your hair? Get a flattering cut and condition it regularly to keep it shiny and healthy. In short, amplify what you like, and don’t worry about the parts you don’t.

Here are some ways to do just that:

Go shopping and bring a good friend. Ask them to help you pick out colors and clothes they think flatter you. Don’t worry if your first reaction is “that’s not me!” Experiment!

Feel better about whatever it is you don’t like about yourself by picturing the absolute worst-case scenario. Exaggerate whatever it is you’re hung up on and blow it up in you mind until it’s comical. Then look in the mirror — not so bad anymore is it?

Accept yourself for who you are, how you look, and focus on what really matters — the things about you that can’t be seen — your heart, mind and soul!

What do you want people to praise you for? Is it really how you look? Probably not. You probably want people to think you’re funny, smart, nice, or generous — something along those lines right?
Make a list of your positive personal qualities and characteristics. Then ask yourself, what’s more important? Get involved in activities that build on your personal characteristics — volunteer, join a club, take a class to sharpen a talent. These will help you emphasize and focus more on the more important qualities that get you through life successfully and with more fun.

Live life, love fully and laugh often!

“希望你是别人等于浪费你本人” 。
--无名氏

童年起，当我们照镜子时，我们只看到一个美丽的形象，却很少有人它所反映的东西。本文将教您如何照镜子，只看到一个美丽的你，虽然是理想化了。

当你照镜子时，你最想注意的是什么？它给你的感觉如何？如果你和常人一样，最先引起你注意的可能是你最不喜欢的部分。如果是的话，别担心，您并不孤单。为什么呢？你能猜出在短短的一年时间里，广告商要花多少钱向我们出售“理想”的美丽形象这个概念的吗？嗯，我猜不出，但我知道是要花很多钱的，肯定要上几十亿美元！

因此，技巧上，您可以考虑自己洗脑。从你的童年，不管你是否玩过玩具或芭比娃娃，你一直保持着不变的你期望的美丽形象。永远记住，这些形象是在很大程度上及解剖学上是不可能的！

还有，你会真的要看起来像法比奥吗？或帕姆.安德森？真诚地吗？我猜大概不会。

所以，以下教你如何树立你对与生俱来的身材的信心：

1. 看看镜子里。
2. 这次，确实要看看你自己。思考别人对你的称赞。有人告诉过你你的头发有多好吗？你的眼睛是多么的漂亮吗？你的微笑很好看吗？尝试看看他们所看到的。

3. 看全身。站得离镜子远些，直到你能看到你全身。你看到什么呢？找出至少有三个好的地方。

4. 现在，照近一点。确确实实地靠近。看看你的眼睛-虹膜。他们是什么颜色？他们都是一个颜色，还是各种各样颜色的雀斑？你会如何用积极的比喻或形容词来描述他们？

5. 现在，请微笑。你的微笑传达的是什么？温暖？幸福？

6. 找出至少三个你最喜欢的特点。你打扮出门时强调一下这些特点。如果您爱您的眼睛，那就不要让你的头发把他们遮住了。爱护你的嘴唇呢？请务必让它们柔软和保湿。爱你的头发呢？就剪一个讨人喜欢的发型，再把它梳得整齐，保证其光泽和健康。简而言之，完善你喜欢的，不必担心你不喜欢的部分。

以下的一些方法让你做到这一点：

带一个好朋友和你去购物。请他们帮你挑选他们觉得令你满意的颜色和衣服。如果您的第一反应是“这不是我”，也不用担心！实验！

想象绝对最坏的情况会让你对你不喜欢自己的部分感觉更好。夸大所有令你心神不安并让它充满你哦的脑海，直到很滑稽。然后再照镜子，没有那么差，是吧？

接受你自己是谁，你长得怎样，把重点放在你真正在乎的东西—那些你看不到的--你的心，思想和灵魂！

你想要人们称赞你什么呢？是你的长相？大概不是。你也许希望人们能认为您搞笑、聪明、友好、或慷慨—伴随这些的正义感？

列出你积极的个人素质和优点。然后问问自己，什么更重要？参一些能塑造你个人特点的活动，如义工；加入一个俱乐部，选择一门能磨砺人才的课程。这些将有助于你强调和更专注于更重要的让您的人生成功且带来更多乐趣的素质。

生活，应该全身心的投入、笑口常开！