Five Tips for Loving Every Bit of You By Stacey Bumpus l How to Love Yourself l Boost Your Self Esteem

The human experience can be challenging, particularly when we realize that garnering unconditional acceptance for who we are is difficult. America’s Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks understands this all too well, which is why she regularly embraces what others have deemed flaws, including the forehead she claims is so large it should be called a “five-head.”

In recent years, the larger-than-life personality has encouraged young people to love themselves unconditionally despite internal and external criticism. In fact, she’s famously expressed her belief that “flaws are awesome” through her coined term “flawsome.” There’s no doubt Tyra has mastered the art of loving herself, inside and out. So how can you too embrace the idea of being a flawsome person?

Stacey Bumpus is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in The Boston Globe, MSN Money, Business Insider, Guideposts and Go Banking Rates. Though her love of writing is profound, she has an even greater passion for leading a purposeful life grounded in spirituality. She is the creator of Inspired2Live.com, a blog designed to inspire individuals to lead their best lives by offering positive solutions to everyday challenges.

Embrace Positive Affirmations

One great way to jump on board with loving every bit of you is by changing your attitude through positive affirmations. Affirmations are statements of truth about who you are and what you believe you can accomplish.

Often times, our affirmations encourage negative beliefs, which in turn promote limitations. To fully embrace yourself, flaws and all, it’s good to incorporate positive affirmations into your life. Common affirmations include "I love myself just the way I am" and "I am a beautiful person, inside and out."

In working toward building your self-esteem, you can toy with whichever affirmations resonate with you. To get you started, take a look at 35 amazing affirmations listed on Huffington Post.

Celebrate Your “Failures”

While some believe that failure is real, others view a lack of achievement as a simple learning experience. No matter how you view a time when you believe you failed, it’s a good idea to find a way to see the bright side of a circumstance, instead of focusing on your flaws.

Most experiences are opportunities for learning and growth, so celebrate how you’ve learned from your “failure” and embrace the wisdom and tools you’ve acquired to move on to the greatness you truly desire.

If humbly embracing your moment isn’t big enough, take yourself out to dinner and a movie, or buy yourself a “congratulations” card and cake that symbolizes the next incredible stage in your life.

Get to Know and Love the Real You

Humans come to earth displaying physical appearances and actions that are as beautifully diverse as the planet itself. Yet, each society constructs what’s deemed acceptable and what’s flawed.

In order to truly feel that your flaws are awesome, it’s important to love yourself the way you are. One way to accomplish this goal is by spending quality time alone. According to a 2012 Psychology Today article, by embracing introspection in solitude, you’re “gaining a better understanding of who you are and what you desire in life.”

So, use your alone time to appreciate the real you. You can then identify and make adjustments to what you perceive as flaws, while still loving the amazing person in the mirror.

Serve Others

Serving others can be an underrated experience, but works wonders in making you and others feel amazing.

There’s something pure and authentic about giving someone a hand when needed most - even if that hand is simply picking up an item they dropped or being a listening ear.
The act of service aids us in identifying with others and helps us realize that no one is actually flawed. We’re just unique individuals doing our best with the knowledge we have.

So, what’s your story? Are you feeling like a flawed individual, or are you flawsome like Tyra? If you do the work to improve your attitude, you’re much more likely to go from feeling flawed or flawsome to just plain awesome.