Stop me if this seems familiar. You’ve been committing to your self care routine and dreaming of the confidence boost you deserve. All your friends think that you’re getting closer to reaching your goals. However, you’re still struggling to feel the way you envisioned you should.

How does that make you feel? Like a failure? Like you’re not quite where you thought you’d be by now? Like you’re unsure of how to start the journey toward true self love?

Read this guide to learn why you’re not reaching your goals before you head down the spiral of frustration and self doubt!

Ready to learn all about why you’re not experiencing the transformation you expected? Grab yourself a calming cup of tea and that beautiful journal you’ve been meaning to write in.

Throughout my 5 years working as a boudoir photographer and women’s retreat host, I have learned a thing or two about why people aren’t getting the confidence and self love they desire. Often it comes down to one of these 5 reasons. Knowing the what and why is often the first step in getting closer to the goals you’ve set for yourself.

Pssst, if you want more tips on reaching your goals, join one of my amazing women’s retreats in 2025 with like minded women seeking self love and confidence. I only have limited spots available for women ready to dive deep into their transformation. Check it all out here.

Reason #1: You Find Yourself Comparing Your Progress to Others

You must have heard that “comparison is the thief of joy”, right? That’s exactly what’s happening when you measure your progress against others. My friend Heather has a great blog post on how to stop measuring your beauty or success by someone else’s standards.

Reason #2: Sometimes You Procrastinate on Your Self Love Journey Making Reaching Your Goals Difficult

Hey, this is a judgement free zone, so you can level with me on this. Do you have a list of things you want to do to boost your confidence, but you keep putting them off? I thought so. It’s time to dust off that list and take action on your dreams. There’s a nifty little post on how to know if you’re ready for a transformative experience and starting to prioritize yourself!

Reason # 3: You Don’t Fully Understand What Self Love Means for Reaching Your Goals

In order to embrace your true beauty and feel amazing in your skin, you have to get clear on what self love truly looks like for YOU. I like to follow an easy, 3 step system outlined here:

1. Write down what makes you feel beautiful and confident.
2. Circle the things that make your heart happy.
3. Prioritize the ones that resonate with you the most.

Do you need a helping hand with embracing your beauty? My work with Danielle is a great example of how I’ve helped others rediscover their worth. After just one boudoir session, she felt completely transformed! Click here to learn more about boudoir sessions!

Reason #4: You’re Not Working Smart Enough

Whoa, hold your horses there. I’m not saying you’re not putting in enough effort. Working smarter, not harder, means you need to create systems and routines that work for you. Can you think of an area within your self care routine or body image journey that could benefit from setting clearer intentions?

I know that when I used to try and push through without a plan, it was really hard to see the changes I was hoping for. It wasn’t until I started being intentional about my routines and self love practices that I finally felt comfortable and confident in my own skin. Once you tackle this, everything changes. You’ll start to see the results you’ve been working towards.

Reason #5: You’re Not Working with a Boudoir Photographer or Coach Who Can Guide You

Do you insist on doing it all by yourself? Then you may be getting caught in self doubt and not seeing the big picture. Perhaps it’s time to work with a professional boudoir photographer who can help you see yourself through a loving and appreciative lens.

Many people find that the investment in a boudoir session is something they wish they had done sooner, as the self love boost they receive is life changing.

Key Takeaways for Reaching Your Goals

You may have noticed that all of these reasons for not achieving success with your confidence or self love journey are self created obstacles. At first, that may seem overwhelming. Thankfully, I used to feel the same way. When I finally took the time to prioritize my own self care and confidence I realized that helping women feel amazing about themselves was my true calling. That’s why I started hosting transformative boudoir sessions and women’s retreats – so women like you can rediscover their inner beauty and feel empowered.

Wrapping it Up

If you want to start reaching your goals of feeling beautiful, confident, and reconnect with yourself, you can contact me here. Not ready to book your boudoir session yet? I also have a free self love challenge that will guide you through actionable steps to boost your confidence. Click here to join the free challenge.

Want more from me at Photography by Amber Carl? You can find me and more tips on embracing your beauty, behind the scenes looks at my boudoir sessions, and updates on upcoming retreats on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.