In one of my classes this semester, I was given an assignment to write and present an argument speech. At first, I was totally overwhelmed by this assignment. That is, until I realized that I could be as creative as I wanted. I didn't have to argue like I was a lawyer, I just had to pick a topic and prove my point worthy. So, I decided, why not argue that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty? It's just as powerful a case as any other.
We've all looked in the mirror and been unhappy with what we see. Whether it be our stomach is too round, or our skin isn't perfectly clear, we all have flaws. But why do we care? We're so focused on what's on the outside rather than what's on the inside. Sadly, a large portion of this unhappiness is due to comparing ourselves to celebrities that we see on the covers of magazines and in advertisements. We walk through the grocery store checkout lines and we are bombarded with absolutely stunning figures. We see perfect, slim bodies with skin that is clear as day. We see six pack abs, tall height and muscly arms. How does this leave the average Joe feeling? Fat, ugly, worthless and disgusting are only the beginning of adjectives that run through our minds. It's sad, but true.
In my speech, I told my class to imagine an eighteen year old boy who is six feet tall and 150 pounds. He is a three sport athlete, playing golf, hockey and baseball. He works out with the team and runs just as hard and fast as everyone else in practice. He drinks protein shakes, and eats just as much, if not more than other boys his own age. He lifts weights on his own time, trying to build muscle, but he just can't seem to do it -- at least not as much as he wants. I then told my class that this boy is my brother.
If it weren't for these perfect celebrities negatively influencing our society, would we really focus so much on looks? Would my brother be so hung up on trying to gain muscle and weight if it weren't for the huge, muscly sports stars on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Men's Health? Or would he focus on the fact that he's an incredible athlete who started on the field as a freshman on the varsity baseball team?
The same goes for everyone else. Instead of focusing on their talent, many dancers are worried about their weight and looking the part of a ballerina. A future nurse could save the world someday, and she's worried about getting rid of her gut. An incredibly kind friend could be the source of someone's happiness and the reason for getting up in the morning, but she's worried about her hair looking perfect. There are so many talented, amazing people in the world who don't realize that they are so beautiful on the inside that their appearance should be irrelevant.
I did a poll on Twitter to get some statistics for my speech. I asked if you were to choose, would you rather change your personality or your body? Eighty-three percent of people said they would rather change their body rather than their personality. Although this is a great thing in some ways, considering that everyone likes who they are, so many people still cannot get past their looks. Our world is so focused on what's on the outside when in reality, it's what's on the inside that could be gold.
Luckily, we are advancing a little bit. People like Adele are promoting a curvier, larger body type in the media today. She is known for her incredible singing voice, and she is rocking what God gave her. Jennifer Lawrence, one of Hollywood's most famous actresses right now, is always her goofy self when interviewed. She isn't worried about losing weight to remain in the spotlight. In the opposite direction, the dad bod has become a trend. Who knew? Although these examples are great, and takes the focus off of body image, it still isn't enough.
Imagine if we could all see each other for our souls instead of our bodies? That would be my idea of a perfect world.
