'Summer Body' Dread

Isn't it a shame that simple words such as 'summer body', 'bikini body' or even 'heatwave' can cause such dread and anxiety for so many people! A wave of fear and nerves coming over you, forcing you to decide what's better; getting your legs out or melting in the 28 degree heat! Then, once deciding to brave the shorts, you spend the day worrying about what people are thinking; worrying about the size of your thighs or about the marks down your legs. The reality is, none of it actually matters and most people wouldn't think twice about your outfit- in fact, they're more likely to think positively than negatively. Unfortunately, that feeling still doesn't go away! Within a few seconds of seeing a stranger, we forget what they look like anyway so really that should comfort us and make life easier?!

It's so easy to look at the people around you and appreciate their beauty, believing they're either confident in their skin or should be... chances are, they aren't as confident as they come across or have had a struggle to reach that point if they are. We all look at others and admire their beauty so why can't we do it to ourselves!

A day can feel so much better when you walk out, confident in your outfit, but that doesn't mean it's the only time you look awesome! Sometimes the only thing you can do is say 'screw it' and walk out that door with the reassuring thought that you look flippin' incredible, even if you don't believe it at the time! Tell yourself it often enough and you might just start to believe it! Yes, some days will always be harder than others but overall, it might just do you the world of good.

If you see someone else in an outfit that you think looks great... tell them! It might not seem like much at the time but if they're having a crappy day in terms of confidence, it could make all the difference.

One key moment sticks in my mind when I think about this topic... 

Last year, I uploaded a post about a couple of dresses from Boutique Of Molly, one of which, was this red one. That day, I was not feeling confident in any way shape or form and hated taking the pictures feeling that way. I didn't like the pictures that were taken at all but didn't want my own thoughts to stop me from uploading the blog post. After uploading the pictures to my blog and my instagram, I received a number of positive comments, which was probably exactly what I needed. Not only did I ignore the negative inner voice but I also got a great reaction in return. It was such a simple thing for people to do but made such a big difference to my thoughts and feelings about the outfit. And now look... I've used the pictures in another post- take that, insecurities!

It's great not to have to rely on other people's comments to make you feel confident or somewhat confident but it certainly helps whilst you're working towards that point as well as giving a boost even if you don't need it as such.

What are your thoughts on body confidence and 'summer bodies', let me know in the comments! If you enjoyed this post and want to see more from me, you can follow my social media in the top right-corner. Thanks for reading.

Love, Steph x