For years I made it hard to love me for me without even realizing it. Even though it's something I still struggle with, I am finally aware.
I used to always walk down the hallways in school and see these stunning young women. I would think to myself, "I wish I had her hair" or "I wish I was as skinny as her." Now, you're probably thinking, "Oh crap, I totally do that." It's okay, everybody does it.
One night, I went to a Christian based organization called Cru and they brought up this idea about why comparing yourself to other people makes you unhappy.
I never really thought about it until I sat and listened to them explain it.
If you continuously wish for better hair, a different body type, tanner skin or anything similar just because you see other people have those features, you will only become more insecure about yourself.
Everybody has a different appearance, different style, different personality. That's what makes the world interesting.
All of your differences make you, YOU.
What will really make you happy is embracing those qualities you possess that are different. One of my eyes is bigger than the other, which may be weird to some people, but it makes a great fact for Two Truths and a Lie! I have super curly natural hair that becomes a giant frizzy mess, but at least my hair curls!
If you keep focusing on the attributes of other people and wishing you had those, you're not going to realize how awesome you are for the attributes you already have.
This is something really difficult to fully understand and change. I still struggle with it on occasion because it's so easy to do.
Try this: If you see someone that you think is very beautiful, just think to yourself, "Wow, she's really pretty. What a beautiful world we live in!"
I know that sounds super cheesy, but it's so much better than continuing that thought of "I wish I was that pretty. I can never be that pretty. This is why I'm single. I guess I'll just stay single forever because I can never be that pretty."
No. Just stop. If you think like that all of the time, you're going to be so sad.
Actually, there are probably people around you who see you and start thinking the same thing.
So, how about we just look at ourselves in the mirror and think about how pretty WE are.
