Hey Springsters,

I have a confession to make.

Every time I looked in the mirror I always grabbed my fat or poked at a pimple on my face. There was this voice in my head that told me I wasn’t good enough. Growing up I was bullied in school and people called me horrible names so I found it difficult to be confident.

I didn’t enjoy complaining about my body but it was hard to love myself when I didn’t like what I saw looking back at me.

Two weeks ago when I was walking home from school with my bestie Selen, I opened up to her about how I wanted to have a better relationship with my body and love myself more. She gave me some great advice which immediately made me feel better.

Here’s what my bestie taught me about self-love. I hope it can help you like it helped me.

1. As soon as you are about to criticise yourself, stop and think, would I say that to a friend? The answer is probably no. You are your own friend too so be kind to yourself.

2. When you look in the mirror, train your brain to look for the beautiful things you love and not the flaws you hate. So say something like I may not like my legs but I have a gorgeous face and beautiful eyes.

3. Realise your weight and dress size is insignificant. Your worth is not based on how much you weigh. There is more to you than a number on a scale. You are a beautiful soul, with intelligence and purpose. Don’t let these concerns get in the way of your greatness.

4. Stop comparing your body to your friends’ bodies. Friends bring so much value to your life. It’s more important to spend time enjoying their company and having fun than making comparisons. We are all unique and beautiful!

5. You can be healthy at any size. Being skinny doesn’t mean you will live longer. Your health is what matters the most. So set goals for becoming healthier instead of “looking skinnier”. Exercise regularly and eat healthy – that’s the key to long life!

I’m so grateful for friends like Selen. Now I love my body and teach other girls to love theirs too.