“You wake up, put makeup on / stare in the mirror, but it's clear you can't face what's wrong.”
- J.Cole, "Crooked Smile," Born Sinner (2013)
Take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror. Partake in this simple task: say three respectful, beautiful compliments to yourself without any negative thoughts or interruptions. If you do become interrupted by your very own negative energy, stop, walk away from the mirror, and try again tomorrow. Just remember, the longer you take to get it right, the longer it’ll be until you allow yourself to fix what it is within that's broken. Healing and self appreciation starts with you and your very own soul. In the words of Queen Bey herself, “... it's the soul that needs the surgery.”
“Love yourself, girl, or nobody will.”
- J.Cole, "Crooked Smile," Born Sinner (2013)
I do believe the King of Pop empowering lyrics goes as follows: “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.” Before you can go and advise anyone else on their self worth and life, you must start loving yourself. You couldn’t possibly think that someone can love if you hate yourself. In order to reach the peak of utter happiness, you must open your heart, your mind, and your soul! Yes, walking around with your heart visible could be tricky, but it might also be well worth it. An open heart brings acceptance and appreciation to who you are; you become one with knowing what you have to offer as well as what you don’t. Those naysayers lurking around can’t hurt you anymore because you know and love who you are.
“You ain’t never gone be happy until you love yours.”
- J.Cole, "Love Yourz," 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
Most people go about life as if there's something out there bigger and better that someone else owns. Although that may be true, someone's looking at you in the same light. It all doesn’t mean anything until you love what you have. Of course, there is always going to be a bigger house on the block, a larger vehicle on the lot, and a flyer chick at the spots, but all that matters is that everybody in the house loves and supports you to the fullest, the car remains faithful from point A to B, and your lover appreciates and accepts you for who you are. After all, what are all those finer things without happiness?
“I keep my twisted grill, just to show them kids it's real. / We ain't picture perfect, but we worth the picture still.”
- J.Cole, "Crooked Smile," Born Sinner (2013)
Remain true to you. Love who you are and what you’re able to bring to the table. It’s easy to get caught up in what others have that we don't, but keeping yourself original is important. Stay real, stay down, and stay you; love what God constructed. At the end of the day, you’ll still be worth a look because you stayed true. Not one single person is built straight up; there are ridges in everyone. What unites us is greater than what separates us. Quoting Jermaine Cole, “How do you like your crooked smile?”
