First step—getting the negative influences out of my life and surrounding myself with more supportive people. It’s done wonders for me already.
Then I cut down on all the time-wasting I used to do and started volunteering at a few organizations I care about. This helped with my self image in that I feel more purposeful now. I think being idle was part of the reason I got really down on myself.
As for the weight issue, I don’t know any woman who’s completely free of qualms about her physical appearance, but at least I don’t look in the mirror and hate myself like I used to. I found a study that suggested people who think of themselves positively actually lose a lot more weight than people who view themselves negatively, so I’m trying to focus on the parts of myself I do like. Not always easy, but it’s going to be worth it.
