As a former Olympic ski-cross racer, the term "badass" was often thrown towards me and my teammates.

"Racing down a course with jumps and rollers, head-to-head with three other people?! That’s so badass!"

And, yeah… I guess on the surface and in simple terms, it was pretty wild.

But what I've come to realize over the years is that it wasn't the skiing that made me feel badass, it was the action of expanding my comfort zone and living a clear purpose.

Ski racing was a badass act...

But to live badass takes self-reflection, perspective changes, and a realization that pushing your perceived limits doesn’t stop with the physical...

It shows up in all areas of life.

The dictionary defines badass as, “a tough, uncompromising, or intimidating person”

That sounds old-school to me, so let’s flip that definition on its head:

Bad·ass  | /bad as/  | noun

One who is confidently and authentically themselves. One who owns their passions, is compassionate, and lives life consistently expanding their comfort zone ever so slightly.

In other words, I believe being badass really comes down to this:

• Being comfortable with being slightly uncomfortable.
• Loving oneself.
• Having compassion towards all beings: friends, family, strangers, those who speak a different language, animals, and mama nature.

This badass, selfless compassion is a language that can be understood by everyone.

It’s a language that voices an understanding that you, in fact, are the wizard of your own badassery.

Now imagine if everyone felt badass in their own skin. The potential for confidence and positivity would be uncapped.

Well, I think that dream is possible. And that's what I hope you'll gain from this Year of You theme.

Because you, my friend, are badass.

8 Actions to Boost Your Inner Badass

The thing about being badass is that everyone's limits and interests are different.

Public speaking? Badass. Training for a marathon? Badass. Going back to college as an adult? Totally badass.

What makes me feel badass won't be the same for you, but I believe that regardless of your goals, feeling badass comes down to improving your self-confidence and positive thinking.

Below are eight simple actions I try to take regularly to keep that mojo flowing. I say "try," because no one is perfect... especially me.

But whenever I'm in a funk, these help by pulling on every angle — physical, mental, and emotional — and force me to expand my comfort zone and thinking.

Each of these are simple enough for you to start doing them right away, but they're impactful enough that if they can become part of your routine, the badass will flow in abundance.

Let's get started:

1. Self-Affirmation

It might sound out there, but clinical studies confirm that we can shape our self-identity by telling ourselves what we believe in positive ways.

The action: To help establish that positive thinking, I regularly write down three compliments someone has said about me and put them in a place where I'll notice them often.

Whenever I see those affirmations, I repeat them loud and proud to myself. Once one no longer feels fresh, I swap it out with a new one.

Resource: Positive Daily Affirmations: Is There Science Behind It?

2. Daily journal

The simple act of writing down things you're grateful for each day is a proven happiness tool, commonly used in positive psychology.

The action: Each day I write down three things I’m grateful for — two things I’m excited for that day and one "I am..." statement confirming something I love about myself that day.

Remember that even if you don’t believe in the affirmation you’re telling yourself now, repetition creates a belief in your mind, which can then turn into reality.

Resource:

• 5 Minute Journal
• 3 Good Things: Shortest Guide To The Happiness Reward

3. Reflection

It's easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, and when you don't take a few minutes to reflect, you often forget about the badass accomplishments you've made over time.

The action: At the end of each year, I write down everything I accomplished over the past 12 months.

Whether it's annually, quarterly, or the first of every month, dedicate time for self-reflection on what you've achieved.

4. Draw inspiration

Inspiration is key to motivation, and one of the best ways I've been able to find it is through studying and following leaders in a particular area.

But here's the thing: never compare yourself to others. You are capable of anything you put your mind to, and you’ll do it differently than anyone in the world.

The action: I like to find the experts that provide me with the most motivation and guidance and draw from them as much as I can. I read their books, follow them on social, and devour their interviews. And if I'm ever falling into the comparison trap, I take a step back and reflect on why I'm feeling that way.

5. Learn

As Einstein put it:

“Once you stop learning, you start dying."

… A little harsh, I know, but I believe continuous learning is the spice of life.

The action: Always be learning. That's what I tell myself anytime I'm getting comfortable, and I seek out a new tool or resource to teach me something new.

Resources:

• Grab some popcorn and have a Netflix documentary night (What the Health, Food Inc, The Game Changers, Cowspiracy, or A Life on Our Planet).

• Download the free e-book from Earthling Ed with answers to common vegan questions.

• The 8020 Plants App for meal plans, access to nutritionists, and more.

• Inspiring podcasts: School of Greatness, Rich Roll, Food Heals Nation, No Meat Athlete

• Want to learn about ANYTHING? Check out the site Udemy for courses.

6. Do

Do you ever feel like you're living days on repeat, always going through the same motions without ever doing anything you really love?

It happens to all of us, and it's a certain way to make me feel not-so-badass.

The Action: Whenever I feel stuck, I think of three things I LOVE doing, and make a point to do them more. That sounds vague, I know, but once I've decided I'm going to do something, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I find the time.

Here are some of my favorite activities to get the juices flowing:

Skiing, yoga, hiking, biking, running, cooking (without rushing), traveling, road trips, new places, being with family, visits with friends, dog cuddles, being by the ocean, listening to podcasts, dancing to my fave music.

Whatever makes you feel good… make an effort to do more of it.

Especially if you're feeling lost or without a strong purpose, just start somewhere and see where it takes you.

Resource: Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks or Abraham Hicks videos on YouTube

7. Dance

Dancing produces the chemical serotonin (not to mention endorphins), which regulates mood and is often responsible for happiness. And I don't know about you, but the confidence boost I get from dancing by myself makes me feel like a total badass.

The Action: When I'm feeling tired, lonely, frustrated, or even good, I dance.... like my life depends on it. Turn it up, let go of any inhibitions, and just dance (or sing, too).

Resource: The Power of Dancing

My favorite dance tunes at the moment:

• N2N

• DJ-Surgeon

• Mark Woodyard

• Bill Withers

8. Connect

Never underestimate the power of human connection, especially in the digital age. My cup is full when I put effort into nurturing relationships with family and friends.

The Action: At least once per week, I think of one person I don’t connect with enough and reach out to them to catch up or see if there’s anything they need support with. Most of the time it takes just a few minutes, but almost always sparks something meaningful to both of us.

So there you have it... 8 actions I take to help me feel badass. Whether you do all of this or it sparks a single action, keep this in mind:

You’re here, you’re showing up, and you and your badass self are ready for anything.