Magazine covers flaunt perfectly photo-shopped bikini bodies in every aisle of the grocery store and glamorize being ultra-skinny as the only way to be beautiful. Social media portrays people online with each photograph of their seemingly perfect lives with smiles and friends and good times. Society defines success as graduating college with a four-year degree or finding another way to make a good amount of money and live in a cookie-cutter house with a white-picket fence and two and a half children. How are we to love our own individual selves when society continues to shove the “good” and “perfect” ideas of how it should be down our throats? Loving yourself sounds so simple in theory but with the constant societal norms it can be very difficult to find peace with who you are.
1. Your Happiness is Not Dependent on Others' Ideas of You
It is easy to get caught up in the idea that unless you are fulfilling the needs of everyone else, you are not living correctly. While friendship and compromise are important aspects of life, loving yourself and fulfilling your needs is just as important. If you find joy in reading all day, watching Netflix for hours, or exploring the outdoors, it is important. If you are happy with what you are doing, it does not matter what anyone else thinks.
2.Your Size And Shape Are Beautiful
The super-skinny beauty idea that America has created in society is not the only way to be beautiful. However you are built, you are beautiful. Confidence is the key to beauty. Whether you feel best in a sundress or a baggy tee-shirt, you are petite and wear a size zero, or you embrace your curves, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Keep strutting your stuff.
3.Your Hobbies and Interests Are Important
Everyone is good at something different. Some people are naturally born to write music and sing while others are called to snowboard down a mountain. Just because someone else is good at something that you are not, it does not mean that what you love is not just as important. Some love hiking and running while others see that as torture. Some people love watching old movies all day or cuddling up with a good book or conversation with a friend. Whatever you are good at; embrace it because it is just as amazing as anyone else’s talents.
4.“Likes” on Social Media Do Not Define You
Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the trap that unless you are posting your life on Facebook and Instagram and receiving likes and comments from all of your followers, then you are not good enough. LIKES DO NOT MATTER. Yes, it feels good to gain acceptance from people and to know that they are interested in your life. But the way that people portray themselves on social media is much different from their realities. Do not get caught up in the false advertisement that Facebook brings and instead be confident in your posts and shares regardless of the amount of “likes” you receive.
5.You are Made Uniquely on Purpose
Life would get extremely boring if everyone was wearing the same style and size, loved doing all of the same things and spoke the same ideas. The one characteristic that prohibits this from happening is the uniqueness that each individual possesses. The way that you were made was not by accident. Every aspect of who you are is important. Love your crazy quirks and passions and share them with the world. We will all be happy that you did.
If you get nothing else from reading this article, please know that you are beautiful just the way that you are. It can be hard to believe this when facing all of the outside forces that press down on us every day in society, but you are one heck of a person. Don’t ever forget that.
