“The BIC^® Soleil^® Make Your Own Sun^® campaign is all about finding the bright side in any situation, which is what I learned on my journey of learning to love who I am.”

Beauty is only skin deep.

I made a conscious decision to Make My Own Sun by joining #teamnomakeup at a young age which meant fully embracing my imperfections. It is a practice I still uphold to this day. I own the flaws I have as essential parts of me and reinforce the uncoventional by saying I'm beautiful. I’ve always looked at myself in the mirror and said, “You’re beautiful” because I always knew I was. It might have taken a few years to get to that undeniable self-assured "I'm beautiful", but I got there, I loved it, and so I stay, support, and repeat. But even with all that practice, confidence, and self-assuredness, I definitely do have my moments (and days) where I feel inadequate and have my doubts. I force myself to see the bright side of my beauty, and bring the beauty within to the surface by reigniting my happy.

[Tweet "Bring the beauty that you have within to the surface by embracing your happy."]

Here are 5 ways I remind myself that I’m beautiful every day:

I listen to my favorite songs.

Music in general is a vessel for emotions. If you want to cry, there is music for that. If you want to be angry, there is music for that. If you want to be happy and dance until the end of time, there is definitely music for that. I think that is why it is such a universally loved art form. There is something exhilarating, refreshing, and carefree about rocking out to your favorite tunes.

When I am radiating joy and busting out some dance moves to my favorite divas, I am reminded that I’m beautiful.

I pamper myself.

This is a go-to for most people, but it’s true what they say: When you look good, you feel good. I can’t tell you how many times a bad day started with not feeling the way my afro turned out or not liking the top I paired with my pencil skirt. Pampering can be factored into your day-to-day in different ways. Set aside a Sunday and dedicate it to getting your nails done, doing your hair, or giving yourself a facial. I like taking long showers, indulging myself in the hot steam, washing my face underneath the running water as I listen to music, exfoliating my skin with my favorite coffee scrub, and spending a little extra time getting those flawlessly smooth legs. A little more “me” time in the shower leaves me feeling extra confident all day long.

When I unwind and dial down from my day or dial up to start my day, I am reminded of how beautiful I am.

I honor my body.

I like to do something physical at some point during my day. It helps me stay in tune with my body and is my way of taking care of it and my health. I do my best to drink 2-3 liters of water per day and try to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible. If I do junk, I try to do so sparingly and find that there is a difference in how I feel, how clear my skin is, and how much I glow when I am doing what I can to support my health.

When I am healthy, I am reminded of how beautiful I am.

I honor my spirit.

Whether I decide to pick up a book on self-help or poetry, I do what I can to fulfill my spiritual needs. I prefer to do this through reading because of how deeply connected I am with it by way of my passions. I also pray throughout the day, give thanks, and try to update my #anotetoself meditation journal every morning to start my day on a positive note. To reinforce that, I also meditate while holding my citrine healing stones that are known for their properties of cultivating abundance and prosperity.

When I am centered, I am reminded of my beauty.

I remind myself through telling myself.

I give myself words and mantras that echo the encouragement that I try to give myself physically. Whether it means telling myself “You’re beautiful” or “Damn, I look good!”, the intent is all about reaffirming that I am the key to any validation I might feel I could possibly be needing. It might not even mean me saying it aloud, it could just be me lingering in the mirror as I rub almond oil onto my face in the morning. My eyes are glued to the shape of my lips, my nose, my eyes – and I think to myself, “Yes.”

When I empower myself, I am reminded that I’m beautiful.

[Tweet "I am the key to any validation I might feel I could possibly be needing."]

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t wake up like this. It takes a village to raise a Queen. And for me, that means constantly doing things that reinforce the kind of beauty I wish to reflect and embody.

What are ways you remind yourself of your beauty daily? Share your self-care rituals and how you find the bright side with me below!