If it is not apparent by now, we are not all built to be supermodels on the runway. We were not all built to look exactly like the person next to us. The way you look is on purpose and meant for you! The way you view and present yourself on the outside is reminiscent of how you think about yourself on the inside. You can exercise or change your appearance to achieve the results that you want on the outside as much as you want, but if you do not truly LOVE yourself, it means nothing. If you are not HAPPY with yourself, your size 2 means nothing. If you do not ACCEPT yourself, your hourglass or plus size figure means nothing. We must learn to love who we are… which is a process as well. It is excellent to be healthy and in shape, but sacrificing your health to look like a supermodel is not the way to go.
It appears as though we live in a society that dictates how we should look according to our height, weight, race, etc; if only we could rewind the time and go back to a period when people weren’t so focused on one another's looks. Nowadays it seems as though one must go through a variety of alterations, (i.e. dieting, body shapers, Botox injections, plastic surgery etc.) in order to reach this unattainable level of perfection that is seen on television. Many of these women of Hollywood are beautiful but remember, once they wash off their make-up, detach their extensions, and remove those body huggers geared towards sucking in every ounce of fat, they look just like the rest of us. If there was not such a pressure to conform to a certain look, more people would feel comfortable in their own skin.
For instance, if a girl has a favorite celebrity whose appearance is different than hers, she may feel like her looks are unacceptable. She might also be unhappy with her looks if she is surrounded by other girls who look differently than her. It is especially disheartening when young girls are self-conscious about their bodies. We know that something is wrong in our society when a child in grade school throws around the words ‘fat’ or ‘ugly’ when asked to describe herself. This is truly upsetting. What is even scarier is the development of eating disorders and body image issues as a result of wanting to be certain size or look a certain way (i.e Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia, Depression). We have to start teaching more self-acceptance rather than offering ways that women can change their looks. If we begin to teach young girls that they are beautiful and that they are special, then so many of them would not try to be like someone else. Instead, they would begin to accept herself.
There is a realization that some girls or young women experience an upset with their body and are may feel unhappy about it. The key here is to find that inner strength to love yourself enough to seek a healthy* and happy living. It should not matter what you may look like. As long as you are happy and healthy, that is all that should matter.
*We would love to read your thoughts on this topic. Maybe some of you can share your experiences with body image and how you overcame any issues; or how you continue with that process. Let’s help one another.*
No comments:
Post a Comment