Confidence: A feeling of self assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.
In this day and age, everyone seems to always want to improve themselves, which is not a bad thing. We all are flawed and there is always room for improvement, but when you want to only improve because you hate your current self, there is a problem.
"You're too skinny. You're too fat. You need to be blonde. Wear cuter clothes. No that's too revealing. You're covering too much. Put on more makeup. No that's too much. You need nicer things, but not too nice because you don't want to be a show off. Be different, be better."
WHY do these things matter? Why can't we just appreciate the fact we are all alive, we are here, and we are all so loved?
The bible says so many times that, "you are fearfully and wonderfully made," and if knowing that Jesus knit you together in your mother's womb doesn't make you feel awesome, then I'm not sure what will. We were born to LOVE and to be LOVED. And each person in the whole world is loved infinitely by the God of love Himself. And we refuse to believe that because even though God loves us there will always be people on Earth who seemed to be loved just a little more, and if only we could measure up we would feel adequate. But it is time to realize that being known as beautiful in the secular sense doesn't always mean true beauty. True beauty comes with time, it requires kindness that reaches all and serious love for everyone. Beauty comes to those who are able to realize that, they are.
To men, to women, to everyone: You are beautiful.
We don't hear those words enough, we look for areas of improvement instead of appreciating what we already have. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and said, "You are loved, you are His and you are beautiful," because it will change things. I had a friend tell me to do this after consistently hating myself and saying negative things. I can still remember looking in the mirror, tears streaming down my face, choking out those words. The devil did everything he could to hold me back, but I said it and I immediately felt a wave of relief wash over me. Because as much as I refused to believe it: it's true. Sure, there are always room for improvements but that doesn't mean that we aren't beautiful the way we are right now. Instead of letting people tell you, "you're too this, too that, not enough" just know that you may not be the thinnest person at the gym, but you're there and your body appreciates it and you'll reach your goal. Instead know that just because you aren't the "prettiest" girl in the room does not mean you are not unique and pretty in your own way. We are all something.
We are all loved, we are all His, and we are all beautiful.
