As a woman, there is a lot of pressure on having the perfect body image. Long legs, tan skin, a flat stomach, the list can go on forever. From pictures that we see in magazines, tv, and so on display only a small percentage of people who can achieve the [from what society thinks] is the perfect body type. I know when I've looked in the mirror, the first things I draw attention to are the things I am most self-conscious about, my stomach, my legs, and my jawline are just to name a few.

When I was younger, I would go to Bible camp every summer. I always learned a lot about myself during these times and would consider them "some of the best days of my life". The days were filled with positivity, Gospel, and building self-confidence. Out of all of the great things I learned while my times at Bible camp, there is one thing that stuck out to me the most.

I remember specifically one night, we were talking about body positivity. We are all our own worst critics, and how most of us think that we aren't beautiful ourselves. My camp counselor gave us a task that seemed quite odd to do. She said that we need to go in the mirror, look yourself up and down, and then in the eye and say, "you are beautiful".

Everyone got in line to the mirror and started doing so. Some girls had a hard time saying it or laughed at themselves saying it. I know when I went up to the mirror, it was hard for me to say it out loud that I am beautiful. At the time I was in that awkward stage of puberty where you kind of look like a kid, but kind of looks like an adult and your body is all disproportionate from growing/developing. Least to say, it was rough. But looking myself up and down in the mirror, seeing all my curves and edges and then saying "You are beautiful" to yourself is absolutely liberating.

Still to this day if I ever feel down about myself, I look in the mirror and tell myself that I am beautiful. Everyone is beautiful and unique in their own way. We don't need someone to tell us we are beautiful, you just need to tell yourself that you are beautiful, and you WILL shine brighter than you ever have before.

You will not believe how much your outlook on life improves when you tell yourself you are beautiful, and you are in every way, shape, and form.