Having a rich inner life will set you apart from other girls because you won’t rely on outward validation. This is a powerful ability to have. To practice introspection, start by asking yourself how you feel each morning and night. From there, you can analyze the things you like and why you like them.
Experiment safely. Do not engage in illegal or dangerous activities for the sake of learning new things. If you are nervous, start out with something small, like using online tutorials to learn to knit. Experimenting can mean cooking meals you’ve never had before, reading a book you normally wouldn’t read, or even joining a community theatre production.
Again, if you’re nervous, start out small. Speak to someone you’ve never spoken to before, or try a type of foreign cuisine you’re unfamiliar with.
If you’re worried about what other people think, remember that they probably don’t notice as much as you think they do.
When giving your opinion, it helps to be well-informed. If you aren’t familiar with the topic being discussed, try to listen instead of speaking. When a topic you know comes up, offer your opinions.
Some people might not like you asserting yourself, but not being afraid to demand respect and consideration is nothing to be ashamed of. Assertion doesn’t have to be mean. To assert yourself, you can ask your teacher a question if you don’t understand an assignment, tell your friends you are too tired to go out, or let your significant other know that they hurt your feelings.
Not all compliments are created equal. Objectifying you and complimenting you are two very different things. If a compliment makes you uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to shut it down.
Work on your posture at all times. If you slouch when you’re alone, you will slouch when you are out, too.
Eye contact demonstrates confidence quietly, rather than loud or brash statements. If you feel too awkward practicing eye contact with others, you can practice meeting your own eyes in a mirror or practice with your family members.
If you do not have time for a commitment, say so. Be honest about what you need from a relationship or position. Respecting yourself means being up front about your needs.
Acknowledge your likes and dislikes, but don’t put anyone else’s down. To acknowledge your likes and dislikes, you might say, “Could we put on a country station? Country music is my favorite. ” or “I love Greek food–let’s do Greek food for lunch. ”
Speak your mind in a civil, kind tone. Standing out from other girls can also be achieved by dominating male-oriented conversation. When speaking your mind, be strong but not overbearing. If you are talking about politics, for instance, you can say something like, “I’ve been following the New York Times’ coverage of (political movement), and I agree with…”
If you feel best copying the looks in magazines, own it! Wear and do what makes you feel good.
A simple way to practice loving yourself is to speak kind words to yourself in the mirror each morning. Something as simple as, “You look beautiful today” can boost your confidence. Loving yourself can mean exercising in a way you find fulfilling, or wearing clothes that make you feel your best, even if they aren’t in keeping with the latest trend.
