As the sunny days get inevitably hotter and longer, our moods and bodies tend to go through somewhat of a transition. With the beautiful weather, most resort to spending more time outside and with others. Whether you’re at the pool or just hanging with a group of friends or family, self consciousness and doubt always has a habit of creeping in. It’s hard to deal with these feelings. But there are tricks that can help when that voice pops in and says, “you’re not good enough.”

Negativity can play a big part in how you view yourself. If you assume the worst about everything and everyone (especially yourself), that ends up showing up when you look in the mirror. There is no doubt that this can be a difficult thing to do, but as simple as it sounds it all starts with changing our perspectives to positivity. Have generous assumptions. Be kind and positive around people, and especially how you talk to other about yourself. If you’re having a bad day, don’t wallow in your sadness. If you find yourself in an endless loop of self-doubt and negative self-talk and simple positivity doesn’t seem to combat this, try scheduling a time for these feelings. Most likely by the time you get to that scheduled time you won’t have the energy to sit and wallow, at least for too long.

Comparing yourself to others can also result in a negative self image. It’s practically instinctual that we examine the person next to us and put them side by side next to ourselves, we are creatures of judgment. The fact is, everyone is different. There is no one mold or body that everyone fits into. There is no perfect personality or quality that makes someone flawless. So maybe we don’t love everything about ourselves? That’s okay, but we need to remember to remind ourselves that we are all beautiful and that all starts with how we talk to ourselves. When was the last time you complimented yourself?