How to Trust Yourself

Instructions

1.  Nurture yourself by eating right, exercising regularly and taking time out to relax. You can't trust yourself when you're on edge or feeling guilty. Minimize restrictive behavior by allowing yourself the occasional treat and only engaging in physical activity you really enjoy.

2. See your mistakes as gifts. They're valuable learning experiences because we learn the most from the things we do wrong. Write down the lessons you've learned from your bad experiences in your blank book and refer to them when similar situations arise

3.  Minimize your regrets. Learning from mistakes isn't the same as feeling bad about what you did. When you're at fault, use your journal constructively to work through your misbehavior and understand why you acted as you did.

4.  Practice self-forgiveness. Actually formulate the words "I forgive myself for..." in your journal as often as you need to let go of your mistakes. Then come up with solutions to avoid such behavior in the future.

5. Celebrate your accomplishments in your journal. Forget admonishments from your past that you're not allowed to be vain or show off. Your blank book is a loving friend that wants to hear about the great things you've done.

6.  Concentrate on following your intuition. This can be difficult if you've been taught to rationalize every decision. Life is dynamic and living authentically requires flexibility.

7.  Try new things. You don't need to visit exotic places or take risks to prove you trust yourself. Taking a drawing class when you're convinced you have no artistic talent, for example, can really teach you things about yourself.