Everyone hits puberty at a different stage in life and depending on how much physical activity you’re involved in, this can happen anywhere from elementary school all the way up to college. Lucky for me, I hit puberty over the course of eight years. Yup, that’s right. My body changed and developed at different stages of my life, including my freshman and sophomore years of college. How great is it that I got to deal with stretch marks, awkward curves, and getting a new wardrobe every year because my body was changing? Yeah, I’m not very good at being sarcastic, but that was sarcasm… I felt self-conscious every time I was wearing something a little more form fitting or something that showed a little skin. I say I felt as if it was past tense. Who am I kidding? I still feel self-conscious, which is why I tend to wear black or less form fitting shirts more often.
I went shopping with my mom a few days ago, and while trying on a maxi dress that was adorable, I felt self-conscious. I was so excited to try it on that I even thought of different occasions where I could wear it. Then I tried it on… I bent over once and was immediately uncomfortable with how deep the V-cut was and knew I couldn’t buy it. I was questioning the way people looked at me and the normally happy Sarah became filled with worries and sadness. In the end I put my baggy and comfortable clothes back on.
Thoughts started racing through my head: was my boyfriend embarrassed that I wasn’t as thin as when we first met? Did my friends question why I wasn’t as fit as I used to be? My prior confidence disappeared as my self-image changed. I thought my acne looked terrible, my stomach was hanging over my pants, and my stretch marks looked like they were multiplying. After feeling like this for a few days, I went for a mile run. After showering to cool off, I realized how stupid it was that I let my imperfections dictate the way I felt about myself.
Insecurities, whether you are referring to body insecurities or emotional insecurities, make us feel terrible about ourselves. We let our minds think we aren’t good enough and like anxiety they can paralyze you. Why do we let these feelings affect us so much?
Isn’t it time we stop trying to make ourselves perfect and just accept what we were given? We cannot keep wishing for something to happen with our looks and then complain when it finally does. Instead, we need to listen to those around us who are telling us that we are beautiful and we look good. It’s better for our mental health if we just accept the imperfections we were given and let the hate go. Everyone has an imperfection whether you can see it or not. Why not just accept that these are as much a part of us as our perfections? We have the ability to control our happiness, and therefore we have the ability to control our insecurities, like we can control our anxiety. Don’t let your insecurities dictate how you live your life, and remember you are beautiful!
