5 Small Things That Will Make You Feel More Confident

Let’s talk about confidence for a second, shall we? Confidence is defined as the ability to rely on someone or something. I don’t know about you, but as I get older I realize that I have to be really careful who and what I think I can rely on, otherwise it’ll really bite me in the butt. Essentially, I see that I am really the only person that I can rely on, at least when it comes to feeling really comfortable in my own skin.

After having kids, well If I am being honest even before having kids, I never had a six-pack or ever fully loved my body. This always felt like a challenge to me. In hindsight, I wish I could have loved my body more, but I’m learning how to do that now. So, after having three 9lb babies, let’s just say, I have some stretch marks around my belly button, and I also just tend to carry more weight in that region of my body. 

I thought moving forward in my life I would always have to wear a one-piece swimsuit. First of all, why? Even with stretch marks and a little more belly skin, I should be allowed to wear whatever I want. And second, there are a ton of cute and sexy one piece bathing suits these days, so if that’s what I (or you) need to feel confident, do it folks! Anyway, outside of the stretch marks and belly skin, my breasts … my poor breasts have left the building, my goodness! It’s like a golf ball and tube sock situation now. That being said, strapless is completely out of the question, and this is something I have had to come to terms with. 

The question was … will I ever feel comfortable on the beach or at the pool again? The answer is YES. And you can too, even with your stretch marks, extra skin, and whatever else you got going on. It’s time you felt empowered in your body and chose clothes that fit your body and mindset, not the other way around. 

The first step is focusing on loving our bodies as they are. The second step is finding the piece of clothing (or in this case, swimsuit) that reminds you what a stunning woman you are. For me, cue the high rise two piece swimsuit. HALLELUJAH! This thing is God sent, and yes, I now have it in every single color. 

If you’re anything like me, you want to get over the hump and rock a two piece while still having the support and coverage that makes you feel comfortable. This Amazon high rise suit not only comes in a million variations (strapless, razor back, skinny straps, one strap, etc.), but as I mentioned comes in a million colors too. The bottoms go a little above the belly button so it gives you a little tummy control (that simply makes it all worth it). Therefore, get a color you love and a style you feel great in. I wore this swimsuit on vacation and felt more confident than before I even had my three girls. That’s the type of confidence I am looking for! 

5 small things that can go a long way to help you feel confident: (especially in the warmer months of the year)

→ Wear colors you feel vibrant in. This doesn’t mean you have to have a “bright” color, you just have to wear colors that you feel good about.

→ A little self-tan goes a long way. No you don’t have to go in a tanning bed if you’re not into that. Some bronzer or tanning lotion will make you feel like a million bucks! 

→ Rock a pair of sunglasses you actually like. Sunglasses can make you feel like a total badass in a matter of seconds.

→ Wear clothes that make your body feel supported, aka clothes that make you feel confident.

→ Remind yourself what your body has been through. If you’re a mom like me, you birthed another human being! If you’ve had surgeries, remember you’ve worked really hard to recover from them. Show your body gratitude, and it’ll go a long way.

By doing these things I am reminded how proud I am of this body. It was an athlete. It made three babies, birthed three babies, and recovered from two c-sections. I’ve had knee surgery and a broken ankle, and now I am walking around my neighborhood and on the treadmill twice a day.

I am so excited to share with other women how we can embrace our bodies and get excited about our bodies again! I made a decision that I am not going to miss out on photos, vacations, or games because I don’t feel good about myself. That’s no longer allowed to be an excuse. It’s my mission to show myself, my friends, my girls, my husband, how confident I am in my body. You don’t have to lose x amount of pounds to go on a trip … just go. You don’t have to wait to lose x pounds to wear the two piece swimsuit. You don’t have to wait to lose x pounds to be in the family photo. JUST DO IT. Once you start being grateful for your body, you will become more grateful for yourself. Life is too short. Wear the high-waisted swimsuit.