When we think about society’s perception on the perfect body image, we refer to celebrities such as Kim and Khloe Kardashian or Calvin Harris or Blake Lively or Joe Manganiello or Gigi Hadid. Our high standards give us more stress to meet the criteria of beauty for both men and women. This tends to mess our minds up because it starts to give a feeling of inadequacy. These celebrities are in the limelight 24/7 and go to large lengths to make sure they’re the best because it is their job to do so. But does that really mean we have to go to that extent too?

However, if we think about the early 2000s and compare then to now, we have progressed in the sense that now the “perfect body image” for women consists of being fuller and more voluptuous, though there’s still a stigma of the perfect body. Nowadays we go through extreme measures to look a certain way — plastic surgery, liposuction, Botox, et cetera. But what if we’re being too hard on ourselves? Are we getting the worst of ourselves and not seeing ourselves clearly?

I asked a couple of my friends what their perception of the “perfect body” was, and their answers consisted of not believing in a perfect image and fulfilling what was healthy for each individual and what would make them the happiest, considering that we’re all born with our own beauty.

It’s not only important to appreciate yourself but to also not be so hard on yourself. I believe being the happiest you can be and being healthy is what makes someone beautiful. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with a scale number, height, hair color or texture. We as human beings need to realize that were JUST human. There is no perfection. Perfect is merely a word used because we strive for the best. We tend to forget and get lost in trying to achieve something no one or nothing can change about you. It's important to look in the mirror and not criticize yourself, but to appreciate who’ve you become. Because, after all, no one is perfect.

And if you still need more of a reality check, here are two videos that have impacted my life: