Q: Realistic self pep-talks are great and affirming your self-worth openly to yourself can be a good way to start changing the negative self-talk that you might have developed over time. Make set times during the day to remind yourself that you're a great person. Tell yourself you're special, wonderful, lovable, and loved.  Affirmative talk is part of a range of methods for boosting yourself and for taking out time to acknowledge that you do matter -- just as much as every person around you. Try to be specific with your self-affirmations. For example, instead of saying "I love myself," you could say "I love myself because I'm a smart, compassionate person." . Improving your self-confidence is a great way to work on a more positive self-image. There are several strategies you can use to improve your self-confidence including:   Blocking negative thoughts. Every time you have a negative thought, turn it into something positive. For example, if you think to yourself, “I will never pass this test,” then change the thought to something like, “I will pass this test if I study hard for it.”  Removing negativity from your environment. Surround yourself with people who are uplifting and supportive. Steer clear of people who are negative and critical of themselves or other people.   Being assertive. Being assertive will help you to get your needs met and this will help you to feel happier.   Setting goals. Set realistic goals for yourself, and make sure to reward yourself when you accomplish them.  Seeking mental health support. Working with a mental health professional, such as a therapist, can help you to develop your self-confidence. Responsibility also requires that you relinquish the need to use blame as a source of coping; blame alleviates the need to look at yourself and to change your own behavior. Blame will leave you stuck in time and stuck with your negative feelings, and it perpetuates feelings of helplessness. Blame implies that someone or something else has the power that you lack. Don't blame your parents, the government, your next door neighbors. They may have made things difficult for you but don't use that as an excuse to reduce your self-worth. Avoid being a martyr; the responsibility to move on as a strong, whole person rests with you. Resilient people have the emotional strength to get through life's difficulties without falling apart. This isn't about belittling the hardships and challenges of life. It is about how you react and work your way through them. You always have a choice between demeaning yourself or always remembering your self-worth and staying firm in that resolve. To do this, focus your energy on what you need to do to change the situation or the circumstances. Realize that other people have been wrapped up in the circumstances too and are not necessarily directing the outcome. When you stop having to please everyone else, your desires will rise to the surface and you can start working on your own happiness and self-worth.  Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. In doing so, respect the feelings of others but don't be beholden to them. Opportunities present themselves in all sorts of ways. Part of building self-worth is learning to recognize these opportunities, however small, and working with them.   Turn challenges into opportunities. Successful people tend to turn challenges into opportunities. Try to think of challenges in your life as an opportunity to grow into a stronger person. . Self-worth is often closely tied to one's financial situation.  All financial opportunities that come your way should be assessed with care.  Retirement savings, investments, and savings in general are all things that will help ensure a sound life for you and financial freedom allows you the space to build self-worth away from financial pressures.
A: Tell yourself that you matter. Build your self-confidence Forgive yourself and other people. Work on your resilience. Break the habit of trying to please other people. Heed opportunities. Budget your money

Q: Purchase fresh when it fits your budget and timing. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be more expensive, but are worth the money in nutrition and flavor. Usually they can be eaten raw or cooked. Sometimes there is not a substitute for fresh. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be consumed in the week you purchase them to avoid rot or lessening nutritional value. Antioxidant content begins to degrade immediately after harvest as do some vitamins, so the closer to harvest you eat them the more nutrition you will obtain. Frozen vegetables are frozen quickly after harvest and maintain many nutrients. They are easy to cook and can be stored for long periods of time. They are also very affordable and readily available. Frozen fruit is also a good option. It can be defrosted overnight and eaten without cooking, but the texture will have changed because of the freezing process. It is best to use frozen fruit for desserts or to cook with. Canned vegetables are great for making soups and casseroles. They are also convenient. Canned vegetables may have lost some nutrients during the high heat cooking process, but they still contain a fair amount. Having canned fruits and vegetables on hand helps with having a fruit or vegetable at every meal. When purchasing canned fruit be sure to read the label. Many canned fruits are packed in syrup, which adds extra sugar and calories. Try purchasing canned fruit in juice or water instead. Canned fruit is great for all ages because it is typically softer and comes pre-portioned. ” Purees are useful for making smoothies and adding sauces. Juice has nutrients, but lacks the fiber. It is good for getting a fruit in when you don’t have time or you are not somewhere fruit is readily available. The high sugar and calorie content of juice makes it a tricky choice. The best way to consume is in moderation. Also, remember to only purchase 100% fruit juice.
A:
Think ahead to eating more fruits and vegetables and less junk food, and buy your foods accordingly. Purchase frozen fruits and vegetables for convenience or when fresh are not in season. Purchase canned to stock your pantry and for cooking. Purchase purees and juices for cooking or eating “on the go.